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PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


Shelf... 


BS  2695.4  .L4  1851^ 
Leyburn,  John,  1814-1894. 
The  soldier  of  the  cross* 


\ 


THE 


SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS; 


A  PRACTICAL 


EXPOSITION  OF  EPHESIANS  VI.  10-18, 


BY    THE 

REV.  JOHN^'LEYBURN,  D.D. 


"Tiglit  tie  good  Fight.' 


NEW  YORK: 
ROBERT  CARTER  fe  BROTHERS, 

No.  285  BROADWAY 

1851. 


Entered,  according  to  the  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1850,  by 

ROBERT  CARTER  &  BROTHERS, 

in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  Yorli. 


Stereotyped  by  W M.  S.  Slote,  Philadelphia. 
Printed  by  W  M.  S.  Marti  en. 


Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might.    Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be 
able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil.    For  we  wrestle 
not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities,  against 
powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world, 
against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places.    Wherefore  take 
unto  you  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to 
withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and  having  done  all,  to  stand. 
Stand,  therefore,  having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth, 
and  having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness ;  and  your 
feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace;  / 
above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall 
be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked. 
And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword 
of  the    Spirit,    which    is    the    word    of    God; 
praying  always  with  all   prayer  and    suppli- 
cation in  the  Spirit,  and  watching  there- 
unto   with    aU    perseverance    and 
supplication    for    all    saints, 

EPHESIANS  VI. 
10—18, 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

The  greater  part  of  the  matter  contained  in  this 
volume  was  originally  written  without  any  view  to 
its  publication.  The  senior  member  of  the  house  by 
which  it  is  now  published,  having  seen  the  manu- 
script, thought  it  might  make  a  useful  volume  if 
issued  through  the  press ;  and  at  his  suggestion  the 
matter  has  been  considerably  modified,  and  also 
enlarged. 

The  plan  of  the  work  was  adopted  and  to  a  great 
extent  executed,  before  the  author  had  consulted 
any  other  writer  on  this  general  topic.  He  has 
since  referred  to  all  works  on  the  subject  within  his 
reach ;  but  confesses  himself  chiefly  indebted  to  the 
invaluable  treatise  of  Gurnall. 

This  work  is  not  designed  as  a  learned  or  elaborate 

discussion.     The  object  of  the  author  has  been  to 

1  *  .^ 


6  ADVERTISEMENT. 

present  evangelical  truth  under  scriptural  imagery, 
and  with  a  practical  application  to  the  common 
e very-day  life  of  the  Christian.  How  far  he  has 
succeeded  in  this  purpose,  is  for  others  to  determine. 
The  author  confesses  his  deep  sense  of  the  power 
of  tlie  press  for  disseminating  truth  and  building  uj) 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  his 
earnest,  and  he  trusts  humble  desire  to  be  useful 
through  this  important  agency.  Should  the  present 
volume  in  any  degree  aid  the  people  of  God  in 
their  spiritual  conflicts,  or  stimulate  them  to  in- 
creased zeal  in  theu'  warfare,  or  should  it  be  instru- 
mental in  leading  a  single  soul  to  enlist  in  the 
armies  of  salvation,  he  wiU  feel  that  his  desire 
has  not  been  frustrated,  and  that  his  labour  has  not 
been  in  vain. 

Philadelphia:  September,  1850. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE    ENEMY. 

Tlie  Christian  a  pilgrim  soldier — Purpose  for  which  the  spiritual  army 
is  enlisted — Enemies  to  be  encountered — The  warfare  with  flesh  and 
blood — Satan's  empire  regarded  as  embracing  all  the  evils  to  which 
the  Christian  soldier  is  exposed — The  wiles  of  the  Devil — His  devices 
for  concealing  the  turpitude  and  enormity  of  vice — Exemplified  in 
the  first  temptation — in  the  matter  of  David  and  Uriah,  -         13 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE    ENEMY. 

The  wiles  of  the  Devil  further  considered — He  establishes  false  stand- 
ards of  moral  rectitude — He  gives  an  unreal  importance  to  the  things 
of  the  present  life — He  shuts  out  from  the  soul  the  true  value  of 
eternal  things — His  designs  for  retarding  the  march  of  the  soldier — 
The  "  impedimenta"  of  the  spiritual  army,  -  -  -    27 

CHAPTER    III. 

THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT. 

The  season  of  trial  considered — Designated  by  the  apostle  by  the  term 
"  evil  day" — The  entire  life  of  the  believer  an  evil  day — Times  of 
spiritual  despondency  an  evil  day — A  time  of  spiritual  declension  in 
the  Church  an  evil  day — A  time  of  backsliding  an  evil  day — A  time 
of  absence  from  accustomed  associations  may  be  an  evil  day,    -      40 

CHAPTER   IV. 

THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT. 

The  evil  day  when  false  doctrine  prevails — The  evil  day  of  rebuke  and 
persecution — The  evil  day  of  affliction — The  evil  day  of  death,       52 

(J) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE    GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH. 

A  panoply  provided — The  imagery  from  the  Grecian  armour — Charac- 
ter of  the  ancient  girdles — The  term  "  truth"  defined — Tiie  spurious 
girdle  of  such  as  profess  religion  to  retrieve  a  ruined  reputation — of 
such  as  enter  the  Church  to  secure  its  patronage — of  those  who  neu- 
tralize the  truth  of  their  creed  by  its  errors — of  those  whom,  although 
in  the  Church,  are  yet  supremely  seeking  the  world,        -        -      62 

CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH. 

Evangelical  sincerity  the  girdle — founded  in  a  renewed  heart — Not 
superficial — Not  wrought  by  human  power — Shows  itself  in  hatred  for 
sin — in  a  cordial  acceptance  of  Christ — in  a  love  for  Christ's  teach- 
ings— in  an  affection  for  his  people — in  freedom  from  all  guile  and 
deceit — in  singleness  of  heart  in  all  the  associations  of  life,     -      69 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH. 

The  girdle  of  sincerity  does  not  exempt  the  soldier  from  calumny — It 
protects  by  imparting  firmness  and  stability — by  removing  vulnerable 
points — by  inspiring  confidence  ;  exemplified  in  the  case  of  Daniel, 
and  of  Luther,        ---         -         -         -         ...gO 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Description  of  the  breastplate — The  spurious  breastplate  of  a  right- 
eousness of  good  works — of  an  outward  reformation — of  those  who  at- 
tempt to  balance  their  evil  deeds  by  their  so-called  good  deeds,      91 

CHAPTER    IX. 

THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

The  essential  element  of  tlie  Christian's  breastplate,  the  righteousness 
of  Christ— Nature  and  adaptation  of  this  righteousness  to  the  sinner 
— The  breastplate  also  includes  an  imparted  righteousness,  or  per- 
sonal holiness — Holiness  required  by  express  command — by  the  law 


CONTENTS.  9 


of  consistent  association,  and  as  a  pre-requisite  to  "  seeing  God" — 
Personal  holiness  progressive — Includes  much  attention  to  keeping 
the  heart,      -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -100 

CHAPTER    X. 

THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

The  breastplate  seen  on  the  outer  man — in  a  change  of  temper  and  dis- 
position— in  fidelity  and  circumspection  in  the  relations  of  social  life 
— in  integrity  in  business,  and  honesty  in  all  things — exemplified  in 
Job — Protects  by  introducing  the  soldier  to  the  promises — by  giving 
an  approving  conscience — by  blamelessness  of  life,        -  -    112 

CHAPTER    XI. 

THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE. 

Importance  of  armour  for  the  feet— Tlie  ancient  sandal— Putting  on 
the  sandals  denotes  a  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God — The  sandaled 
soldier  the  reverse  of  those  who  are  indisposed  to  do  what  God  re- 
quires— unlike  to  such  as  make  their  religion  consist  in  the  correct- 
ness of  their  knowledge— unlike  to  such  church  members  as  leave  all 
the  labours  of  Zion  for  others,       -  -  -  -  -    125 

CHAPTER    XII. 

THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE. 

The  sandaled  soldier  has  never  considered  his  life  as  one  of  ease — Hav- 
ing counted  the  cost,  he  is  prepared  to  endure  hardships — A  readiness 
to  do  God's  will  implied  in  the  nature  of  the  service — enjoined  by  ex- 
press command — enforced  by  examples  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  most 
faithful  followers,    -------    134 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE. 

A  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God  indispensable  as  evidence  of  having 
enlisted  in  the  warfare — A  readiness  for  the  service  further  argued 
from  the  extent  of  the  work  to  be  done — from  the  few  that  are  to  do 
the  work — from  the  number  and  variety  of  departments  for  useful- 
ness accessible — from  the  blessed  results  to  the  soldier  himself — The 
great  end  of  this  service  pacific,  -  ...  -     II,') 


10  CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH. 

The  shield  to  be  taken  "  above  all" — Faith  an  elementary  grace  of 
Christian  character  —  Affords  nutriment  and  strength  to  all  other 
graces — greatly  honours  God — Ancient  shields — The  spurious  shield 
of  infidelity — The  spurious  shield  of  practical  unbelief — The  spu- 
rious shield  of  a  temporary  faith — Instances  of  a  transient  faith,   163 

CHAPTER    XV. 

THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH. 

An  evangelical  faith  the  genuine  material  for  the  shield — Faith  defined 
— Faith  protects  by  appropriating  to  the  soldier  the  meritorious  works 
of  Christ — Manner  of  this  appropriation — Its  simplicity — Examples 
of  its  successful  exercise — Faith  also  protects  by  presenting  tempo- 
ral and  eternal  tilings  in  their  proper  light — Shields  against  the  direct 
power  of  temptation  by  various  methods — Examples  of  its  efficiency 
in  this  respect,         -------    178 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH. 

Protection  afforded  by  this  shield  in  times  of  great  perplexity  and  ex- 
tremity— The  shield  fits  the  soldier  for  great  enterprises — illustrated 
in  the  case  of  the  Israelites  at  the  Red  Sea — of  Abraham  in  Mesopo- 
tamia—  of  Noali  when  commanded  to  make  the  ark  —  Apostolic 
achievements — shields  against  unbelief  as  to  the  future  triumphs  of 
the  Church  on  earth — Prospects  for  better  things  in  reserve  cheering 
on  the  saints — What  faith  has  enabled  them  to  endure — Looking  for 
a  city — Lord  increase  our  faith,        ------      193 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE. 

The  helmet  used  among  all  martial  nations — Christian  warrior's  helmet, 
the  "  hope  of  salvation" — Hope  encourages  and  inspires — Illusions  of 
hope — Cautions  against  taking  for  a  helmet  the  hope  of  future  re- 
pentance ;  or  the  hope  of  being  saved  through  the  general  mercy  of 
God ;  or  the  hope  of  being  saved  because  connected  with  the 
visible  Church,       -------    208 


CONTENTS.  11 


CHAPTER  XVIII, 


THE  HELMET  OF  HOPE. 

Excellency  of  the  believer's  hope  over  that  of  the  worldling — The  shield 
and  the  helmet  intimately  related — Qualities  of  the  good  hope  ; 
well-founded  ;  reasonable  ;  has  a  good  object  in  view  ;  Illustrated  in 
several  particulars,  -  _  .  _  .  _    219 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE. 
Hopeful  the  constant  companion  of  Christian — The  Christian  soldier 
steadfast — Hope  an  anchor — Hope  efficient  and  operative — The  as- 
surance of  hope  attainable — This  hope  strengthened  by  experience 
— Exliortation  to  put  on  and  strengthen  this  piece  of  the  armour,     236 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    SWOF..D    OF    THE    WORD. 

Furnished  here  with  an  aggressive  weapon — The  "  word  of  God"  the 
Christian  soldier's  sword — This  sword  of  divine  origin — The  simple 
Scriptures  a  sufficient  weapon — The  entire  word  of  God  must  be  used 
— No  eclecticism  permitted — Importance  of  doctrinal  truth — The 
word  the  Spirit's  weapon — Dangerous  assaults  on  plenary  inspira- 
tion— Work  of  the  Spirit  in  revealing  truth  and  in  giving  it  power — 
Peter's  preaching  and  John  Livingston's,  .  -  .    259 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  SAVOPv-D  OF  THE  WORD. 
Other  qualities  of  this  sword — Instrument  by  which  recruits  are  won 
to  the  armies  of  salvation — Word  of  God  used  by  tlie  Spirit  in  the 
work  of  conviction  and  conversion — Great  agent  in  sanctification — 
Offices  of  the  word  in  refuting  error — Methods  for  using  the  word — 
Must  be  habitually  studied — Must  be  used  by  means  of  preaching — 
by  training  your  children  for  ministers — by  contributing  to  sustain 
the  ministry — The  press  also  affords  a  powerful  agency  for  using 
the  word,      -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -    265 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE. 

A  spirit  of  prayer  indispensable  to  the  successful  use  of  the  armour — 
This  ai'gued  from  the  weakness  of  the  soldier,  and  from  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Captain  of  his  salvation,  .  _  _  .    284 


12  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    SPIFaX    FOR    THE    WARFARE. 

Meaning  of  the  phrase  "  praying  always" — Implies  prayer  in  the  sanc- 
tuary— in  the  social  circle — in  the  closet — and  prayer  by  ejacula- 
tion, -  -  -  -----    296 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE. 

In  order  to  be  successful,  prayer  must  be  with  humility — with  impor- 
tunity— with  resignation  to  the  will  of  God — with  vigilance,  and  with 
an  enlarged  benevolence,  _  .  .  -  -    205 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

THE    VICTORY. 

The  true  soldier  not  slain,  nor  borne  into  hopeless  captivity — His  ar- 
mour is  from  God  and  hence  invincible — His  warfare  and  his  calling 
are  of  God  by  whom  all  emergencies  have  been  provided  for — Pro- 
visions of  the  everlasting  covenant — Though  the  soldier  fall  he  shall 
316 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE    VICTORY. 

The  armed  soldier  followed  through  the  evil  days  of  his  conflict — A 
victor  at  his  enlistment — A  victor  in  the  evil  day  of  temptation — A 
victor  in  the  evil  days  of  declension,  false  doctrine  and  persecution 
— A  victor  in  the  evil  day  of  affliction — a  victor  in  the  evil  day  of 
death — The  victory  of  the  whole  church  on  earth — The  final  vic- 
tory of  the  church  triumphant,  -----     324 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE    CALL    TO    ARMS. 

Have  you  put  on  the  armour  ? — The  question  considered — Appeal  to 
those  who  are  unarmed  to  seek  the  panoply — The  danger  of  delay — 
Those  who  are  at  last  without  the  armour  must  fall  into  hopeless 
and  eternal  captivity,        -  -  -  -  -  .     335 


THE  SOLDIEE  OF  THE  CROSS 


==^«#0®» 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE    ENEMY. 

"  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand 
against  the  wiles  of  the  devil.  For  we  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and 
blood,  but  against  principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers 
of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places." 

The   Scriptures   represent   the  Christian   under  both  the 

images  of  a  pilgrim  and  a  soklier.     He  has  a  journey  to 

make  from  the  land  of  spiritual  bondage, where  by  nature 

he  is  enslaved,  through  the  wilderness  of  this  world,  to  the 

heavenly  Canaan.    But  in  this  pilgrimage  dangers  are  to  be 

encountered ;  enemies  numerous,  powerful,  experienced  and 

subtle,  beset  the  way ;  and  for  this  reason  he  is  transformed 

2  13 


14        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


from  a  peaceful  wayfaring  man  to  a  pilgrim  warrior. 
Hence  the  sacred  writers,  in  describing  the  duties  and 
labours  of  the  Christian,  abound  in  martial  imagery.  He  is 
called  a  "  soldier,"  and  furnished  with  "  weapons  of  war- 
fare" which  "  are  not  carnal  but  spiritual,  and  mighty 
through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds."  He  is 
urged  to  "  war  a  good  warfare,"  and  as  the  closing  scenes 
of  life  draw  near,  we  hear  him  burst  out  in  the  joyful  notes 
of  the  victor,  as  he  says,  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I 
have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith;  henceforth 
there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness  which  the 
Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  will  give  me  at  that  day."  The 
church  of  God  on  earth  is  an  army ;  its  leader  is  the  great 
"  Captain  of  Salvation ;"  all  believers  are  soldiers  of  the 
cross,  and  are  ultimately  brought  "  off  more  than  con- 
querors through  him  that  loved  them." 

The  enemies  with  which  the  militant  Christian  is  called 
to  engage,  though  numerous  and  formidable,  are  but 
the  common  foes  of  our  race,  and  there  is  no  one  who  must 
not  either  enter  the  lists  with  them,  and  fight  valiantly  and 
win  the  day,  or  else  be  taken  captive,  and  remain  a  prisoner 
in  eternal  chains  and  bondage.  If  disposed  for  the  fight, 
rest  assured  you  will  be  led  to  battle  by  a  Captain  whom 
victory  never  forsakes,  and  that,  though  the  conflict  may  be 


THE    ENEMY.  15 


tedious  and  severe,  though  the  day  may  oftentimes  seem  to 
be  going  against  you,  ultimate  triumph  is  a  matter  of  abso- 
lute certainty.  More  glorious  far  than  the  crusades  of  the 
middle  ages,  the  mighty  hosts  of  the  army  of  salvation 
shall  neither  perish  on  their  way  to  the  scene  of  warfare, 
nor  return  from  it  with  thinned  and  tattered  ranks,  pale  and 
dispirited  through  failure  of  success,  but  shall  enter  at  once 
the  field  of  conflict,  drive  back  Satan  and  his  hellish  crew, 
and  possess  in  peace  and  undisputed  security  the  holy, 
heavenly  land.  The  ranks  of  the  spiritual  army  are 
swelling  and  shall  still  swell  as  the  sacramental  host  moves 
on.  Recruits  are  called  for  now.  Will  you  not  join  the 
glorious  march  ?     Come,  put  the  gospel  armour  on. 

In  order  that  you  may  do  so,  it  is  important  first  to 
understand  the  nature  of  the  warfare  to  which  you  are 
summoned;  and  hence  you  must  be  acquainted  with  the 
true  character  of  the  enemy, — you  must  discover  the  strength 
of  the  forces  with  which  you  are  to  contend. 

"  Put  on,"  says  the  apostle,  "  the  whole  armour  of  God, 
that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil. 
For  we  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against 
principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the 
darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places."      The  same  inspired  pen  which  has  described  the 


16       THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


armour  has  also  here  portrayed  the  enemy.  The  old 
adversary,  the  devil,  with  the  various  powers  subject  to 
him,  wily  and  dangerous  to  souls,  is  surely  not  a  foe  to  be 
despised.  Powerful  and  fearful  as  are  the  onsets  from 
hostile  "  flesh  and  blood,"  these  seem  to  be  almost  for- 
gotten or  reckoned  of  small  moment  compared  with  this, 
the  great  adversary  of  all.  "  For,"  says  he,  "  we  wrestle 
not  against  flesh  and  blood." 

"  We  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood  !"  We  might 
think  the  apostle,  in  his  zeal  to  disclose  the  power  most  to 
be  dreaded,  had  almost  overstepped  his  own  meaning. 
Does  he  intend  to  teach  that  the  soldier  of  Christ  has  no 
warfare  with  flesh  and  blood  ?  Has  he  forgotten  how  the 
saints  of  God  have  been  trodden  under  foot  by  the  iron- 
shod  opposer  ?  how  they  have  been  "  tortured,  not  accept- 
ing deliverance,"  or  had  "  trial  of  cruel  mockings  and 
scourgings,  yea,  moreover,  of  bonds  and  imprisonment  ?"  or 
how  they  have  been  stoned,  sawn  asunder,  tempted,  slain 
with  the  sword?  or  how  they  "  wandered  about  in  sheep- 
skins and  goatskins,  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented," 
and  seeking  their  homes  "  in  deserts,  mountains,  dens,  and 
caves  of  the  earth  ?"  Well  did  Paul  know  that  the  blood 
of  all  the  prophets  which  had  been  shed,  from  Abel  to 
Zacharias,  was  upon  the  skirts  of  his  people.     Well  did 


THEENEMY.  17 


Paul  remember  how  Stephen  had  been  stoned,  and  how  his 
Master  had  been  hung  upon  the  tree,  and  well  did  he  know 
that  "  all  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer 
persecution."  He  had  special  reason,  too,  for  himself  to 
remember  the  jail,  the  stripes,  the  stocks,  the  chains  which 
opposing  "  flesh  and  blood"  had  called  him  to  endure.  Or 
does  he  mean  that  there  are  within  him  no  unsanctified 
passions,  no  remains  of  the  old  Adam  ?  Has  he  forgotten 
that  memorable  portrait  of  a  battle  between  the  two 
natures  which  he  has  so  strikingly  drawn,  and  for  which  he 
was  both  the  artist  and  the  sitter  for  the  picture  ?  No 
other  than  himself  was  it,  who,  in  describing  his  religious 
experience,  says,  "I  know  that  in  me,  (that  is,  in  my  flesh,) 
dwelleth  no  good  thing ;  for  to  will  is  present  with  me ; 
but  how  to  perform  that  which  is  good,  I  find  not.  For 
the  good  that  I  would,  I  do  not ;  but  the  evil  which  I  would 
not,  that  I  do.  Now,  if  I  do  that  I  would  not,  it  is  no 
more  I  that  do  it,  but  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me.  I  find, 
then,  a  law, that  when  I  would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with 
me.  For  I  delight  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  after  the  inward 
man  ;  but  I  see  another  law  in  my  members  warring  against 
the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bringing  me  into  captivity  to  the 
law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  members." 

Here  then,  is  an  inward  "  warfare"  between  the  "  law 

2* 


18        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


of  sin"  in  the  members,  and  "  the  law  of  the  Lord"  in  the 
"  mind."  Here  is  a  foe  to  be  met,  within  the  heart, — a 
traitor  to  be  driven  from  the  camp.  No  despicable  things 
either  are  these  heart  enemies.  Their  name  is  almost 
legion.  All  that  depravity  which  is  so  vile  in  the  sight 
of  a  holy  God,  all  that  is  to  be  dreaded  as  to  its  influence 
in  destroying  human  souls,  issues  from  the  heart.  "  A 
cage  of  unclean  birds,"  it  is  termed  in  Scripture.  A  dark 
and  doleful  den  is  it,  from  which  come  forth  all  manner  of 
hideous  and  loathsome  things.  "  For,"  says  He  who 
knows  the  heart,  "  out  of  the  heart  of  men  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  adulteries,  fornications,  murders,  thefts,  covet- 
ousness,  wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an  evil  eye,  blas- 
phemy, pride,  foolishness  ;  all  these  things  come  from  within 
and  defile  the  man."  A  formidable  array,  truly,  is  this. 
Where  short  of  perdition  could  be  met  a  more  monstrous  con- 
gregation of  all  that  is  wicked  ?  "  The  flesh  lusteth  against 
the  spirit,"  says  Paul,  to  the  churches  of  Galatia,  when  he 
announces  the  works  of  "  the  flesh,"  in  language  nearly 
allied  to  that  in  which  his  divine  Master  had  written  the 
catalogue  of  the  evil  dwellers  of  the  heart.  They  "  are 
these:  adultery,  fornication,  uncleanness,  lasciviousness, 
idolatry,  witchcraft,  hatred,  variance,  emulations,  wrath, 
strife,  seditions,  heresies,  envyings,  murders,  drunkenness. 


T  II  E     E  N  E  M  Y  .  19 


revellings,  and  such  like."  From  the  same  source  too, 
come  unbelief,  impenitence,  sinful  doubts  and  fears.  Even 
the  imperfections  which  beset  us  in  the  way  of  duty,  and 
prevent  oftentimes  the  proper  exercise  of  Christian  graces, 
have  the  same  origin  ;  for  not  seldom  is  it,  that  what  Christ 
said  in  the  garden  to  his  loving  but  wearied  disciples,  who, 
though  faithful  to  their  Master,  "  could  not  watch  one 
hour,"  might  be  said  to  us,  "  the  spirit  is  willing,  but  the 
flesh  is  weak." 

This,  then,  is  "  flesh  and  blood" — weak,  frail,  encumber- 
ing the  spiritual  nature  at  its  best  estate,  and  at  its  worst 
sending  forth  a  band  of  dark  and  dreadful  monsters — "  the 
fleshly  lusts  which  war  against  the  soul ;"  and  that  these 
lusts  do  war  against  the  soul  even  of  the  believer,  appears 
not  only  from  the  conflict  of  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles 
described  by  himself,  but  from  similar  teachings  of  the 
inspired  saints,  and  is  well  known  from  experience  to  every 
true  soldier  in  the  army  of  salvation. 

Here  then,  although  we  may  have  encountered  but  one 
of  the  wings  of  the  enemy's  legions,  and  must  go  further  to 
find  him  in  strongest  force,  we  discover  that  there  are  foes 
with  which  there  must  be  fearful  contests ;  and  that  although 
the  apostle  might  specially  exhort  us  to  seek  the  Christian 
armour,  because  of  the  wiles  of  the  devil,  he  could  by  no 


20      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


means  have  intended  to  teach  that  there  was  no  warfare  with 
flesh  and  blood,  or  that  in  that  strife  also  this  armour  would 
not  be  indispensable. 

The  empire  of  Satan,  however,  is  evidently  regarded  by 
the  apostle  as  embracing  in  its  broad  limits  all  the  evils  we 
encounter  from  flesh  and  blood.  Popularly,  our  spiritual 
enemies  are  "  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil ;"  but  in- 
asmuch as  the  world  and  the  flesh  are  to  a  very  consider- 
able extent  under  Satanic  control,  and  constitute  the 
agencies  through  which  he  operates,  they  are  evidently 
here  looked  upon  as  a  part  of  his  devices,  and  he  is  set 
forth  by  the  apostle  as  the  representative  of  the  entire 
forces  with  which  the  Christian  must  wage  his  warfare. 
"  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to 
stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil." 

The  passage  immediately  succeeding  is  but  an  expansion, 
or  explanation,  of  the  idea  of  Satan's  power  just  adverted 
to,  and  may  convey  to  us  some  impression  of  the  organized 
and  formidable  character  of  his  spiritual  forces.  He  does 
not  carry  on  his  war  upon  the  saints  at  random,  but  under 
a  well-devised  system.  There  is  an  empire  of  which  he  is  the 
ruler,  and  where  the  subjects  occupy  various  gradations  of 
rank.  He  is  the  "  prince  of  the  powers  of  the  air  ;"  under 
him  are  "  principalities  and  powers,"  orders  of  beings  of 


THE    ENEMY.  21 


whom  we  know  little,  but  who  are  engaged  in  accomplishing 
the  designs  of  their  prince.  There  are  also  "  the  rulers  of 
the  darkness  of  this  world,"  evil  beings,  whose  deeds  are 
darkness,  and  who  have  special  charge  over  the  lands  of 
heathenism,  where  the  dark  places  of  the  earth  are  filled 
with  the  habitations  of  cruelty ;  and  "  spiritual  wickedness," 
or  wicked  spirits  whose  office  it  may  be  to  tempt  to  the 
most  malign  and  daring  sins.  The  distinct  work  done  by 
these  various  grades  in  the  kingdom  of  Satan  is  not  for  us 
to  know ;  enough  is  it,  that  we  do  know  that  they  but  carry 
out  more  systematically,  extensively,  and  effectually,  his 
dark  and  terrible  designs,  and  make  his  "  wiles"  the  more 
to  be  dreaded,  and  the  necessity  for  a  protective  armour  the 
more  imperative. 

One  of  the  "  wiles  of  the  devil"  is  "  to  blind  the  minds" 
of  men,  "lest  the  light  of  the  glory  of  God  should  shine  into 
them." 

That  Satan  has  means  of  very  direct  access  to  the  minds 
of  men  is  unquestionable.  He  is  not  omnipresent,  but  by 
his  emissaries,  if  not  in  person,  he  can  be  every  where. 
"  He  walketh  about."  His  means  of  traversing  space  are 
probably  to  us  inconceivably  rapid,  and  by  his  personal 
visitations,  or  through  the  various  gradations  of  his  servants, 
he  can  keep  up  a  strict  espionage  over  the  entire  human 


22  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


family.  Many,  indeed,  may  be  so  fully  established,  and  so 
rapidly  progressing,  in  ways  of  wickedness,  as  to  need  but 
little  of  this  care.  Others,  and  especially  God's  people,  it 
is  important  to  haunt  every  where  and  always,  to  lead  them, 
if  possible,  from  the  paths  of  righteousness.  He  cannot 
conquer  the  genuine  believer,  but  he  can  harass  and  retard 
his  onward  march. 

In  the  unregenerate  Satan  reigns  supreme.  The  apostle 
represents  him  as  "  the  spirit  that  ruleth  in  the  children  of 
disobedience."  He  has  entered  the  temple  of  their  bodies 
and  there  fixed  his  spiritual  abode.  He  has  taken  command 
of  all  the  legion  of  evil  things  which  inhabit  the  soul,  and 
got  the  control  over  the  imagination,  the  will  and  the  affec- 
tions, and  become  the  great  actuating  and  governing  power. 
The  imagination  thus  at  his  disposal  is  inflamed  and 
set  on  fire  of  hell,  and  all  that  is  impure  in  thought  can 
be  made  to  stand  before  the  vision  of  the  mind  in  glowing, 
life-like  reality.  Thus  are  the  passions  kindled,  and  lust, 
covetousness,  pride,  and  all  evil  feelings,  brought  into 
powerful  exercise,  and  by  this  exercise  endowed  with 
new  and  greater  strength.  The  pictures  of  the  imagination 
also  captivate  the  affections,  and  the  soul  falls  in  love  with 
the  forbidden  things ;  and  then  the  will  purposes  to  pursue 
them,  though  heaven  should   frown,  God  denounce,  con- 


THE    ENEMY.  23 


science  upbraid,  and  salvation  itself  be  periled.  True,  there 
is  an  infatuation ;  the  vision  is  displayed  in  colours  too  glow- 
ing, and  the  dark  and  gloomy  scenes  of  sorrow  and  remorse, 
which  intervene  between  all  scenes  of  sensual  brightness, 
are  kept  out  of  sight ;  but  in  this  consists  the  wiliness 
of  the  adversary,  and  on  this  in  some  measure  depends  his 
success.  Deluded  thus,  how  many  are  led  captive  by  him 
at  his  will !  How  formidable  his  power  to  all !  Truly  we 
wrestle  not  with  flesh  and  blood  only,  but  with  principalities 
and  powers. 

The  turpitude  and  enormity  of  vice  is  often  effectually 
concealed  by  the  wiles  of  the  devil.  It  has  always  been 
his  way  either  to  keep  out  of  sight,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
consequences  of  sin  until  the  act  be  done,  or  so  to  gar- 
nish it  over  as  to  make  it  appear  no  sin  at  all.  Ten  thou- 
sand times  you  may  have  seen  vice  so  covered  over  with  the 
tinsel  of  wealth  and  fashion,  so  softened  by  fair  names, 
rendered  so  common  by  its  prevalence,  and  so  genteel  by 
the  favour  it  has  found,  that  its  perpetrators  have  hardly 
looked  upon  it  as  vice  at  all.  They  have  drimk  down  the 
pollution,  and  straightway  "  wiped  their  mouths,  saying,  I 
have  done  no  wickedness." 

Thus  decked  off"  and  adopted  into  favour  by  those  who 
give  tone  to   fashionable   society,  is  vice,  think  you,  re- 


24      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


garded  as  the  same  thing  which  is  found  amongst  the  vul- 
gar and  profligate,  or  less  polished  ?  Are  the  gay  plea- 
sures, which  the  rich  enjoy  amidst  their  sumptuous  apart- 
ments, and  the  costly  array  of  all  that  can  charm  the 
senses,  placed  in  the  same  class  with  the  indulgences  of  the 
more  grossly  and  vulgarly  licentious  ?  Are  they  both 
reckoned  as  alike  destroying  a  proper  sense  of  spiritual  and 
everlasting  things,  as  successfully  and  fatally  shutting  God 
out  of  the  heart,  and  for  all  eternity  ruining  the  soul  ? 

Under  the  disguise  with  which  wealth  and  fashion  can 
invest  earthly  pleasures, is  there  not  in  reality  as  much  love 
of  the  world,  devotion  to  sensuality,  aversion  to  the  things 
of  God,  and  all  the  outgoings  of  a  depraved  heart,  as  in 
almost  any  other  portion  of  that  vast  empire  where  Satan 
reigns  ?  Amidst  the  splendid  gayeties  of  the  rich,  the  Om- 
niscient eye  doubtless  sees  what  as  really  offends  his  purity 
and  provokes  his  wrath  as  in  the  more  disgusting  vices  of 
the  poor.  Still  the  fair  name,  the  smile  of  fashion,  and 
the  enchantment  of  genteel  pleasures,  have  in  reality  per- 
suaded the  devotee  that  in  these  pursuits  there  is  neither 
great  sin  nor  great  danger,  and  herein  is  another  of  "  the 
wiles  of  the  devil." 

As  to  the  real  tendencies  and  consequences  of  sin,  how 
seldom  are  these  so  much  as  thought  of  in  the  moment  of 


THE    ENEMY.  25 


temptation  and  indulgence !  Poor,  heedless,  short-sighted 
creatures,  how  little  do  we  dream,  often,  of  the  momentous 
results  of  some  single  act  of  transgression !  We  cannot  see 
the  future,  nor  know  how  the  consequences  of  our  mis- 
doings will  swell  out  in  coming  time ;  we  cannot  discern 
the  long,  dark,  mournful  train  of  sin  and  sorrow  which  one 
unwitting  transgression  lets  in,  nor  would  we  often  think  of 
these  things  if  we  could.  The  bright  phantom  of  sensual 
joy  is  before  us ;  we  are  captivated,  enchanted  ;  we  think 
not  of  the  evil  that  must  follow  the  indulgence  ;  we  do  not 
wish  to  think  of  it ;  we  do  the  deed,  and  then  come  the 
sorrow,  shame,  and  remorse. 

Our  mother  in  Eden — think  you  that  under  the  power 
of  the  first  temptation,  or  the  fruition  of  the  first  transgres- 
sion, she  could  have  had  even  a  remote  conception  of  the 
long  train  of  sorrow,  sin,  and  death,  which  from  that  act 
was  to  follow  in  all  coming  time,  and  to  the  latest  posterity  ? 
She  could  not  have  known  it  all ;  she  knew  God  had  for- 
bidden her  eating  that  fruit,  and  this  should  have  been 
enough ;  but  in  sight  of  the  golden  fruit  so  strongly  prohi- 
bited, and  inflamed  with  a  desire  for  that  knowledge  of  the 
gods  for  discerning  good  and  evil,  which  this  fruit  could 
impart,  carried  away  under  the  power  of  temptation,  would 
she  have  allowed  herself  to  think  of  the  sorrow,  sin,  and 


26  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


death  to  come,  even  if  she  could?  The  old  serpent  be- 
guiled her,  and  she  ate.  Alas !  the  wiles  of  the  devil ! 
So  also  have  her  numerous  descendants  often  looked  upon 
the  expected  pleasure  or  profit,  and  forgotten  the  sin,  sor- 
row, and  curse,  until  the  deed  was  done,  and  then  the  sin, 
sorrow,  and  curse  all  came. 

In  the  matter  of  Uriah's  wife,  David  was  enticed  by  the 
lusting  of  the  eye.  His  passions,  once  set  on  fire,  put  out 
the  light  of  reason,  and  stifled  the  calls  of  conscience,  and 
headlong  into  adultery  he  rushed.  Then  came  the  wretched 
plottings  to  conceal  his  sin  ;  the  husband  already  injured 
made  drunk  ;  then  put  in  the  forefront  of  a  desperate  battle, 
and  murdered  by  his  own  matchless  valour  and  faithfulness 
to  his  faithless  king.  Were  these  shameless  plottings,  these 
bloody  hands,  seen  from  the  house-top  where  this  series  of 
crimes  began  ?  Alas  !  they  were  the  dark  afterpieces  of 
the  first  bewitching  vision.  Such  were  the  wiles  of  the 
devil. 


THE    ENEMY.  27 


CHAPTER    II 


THE    ENEMY. 

"  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  against 
the  wiles  of  the  devil.  For  we  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood, 
but  against  principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the 
darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places." 

Survey  still  further  the  works  of  the  great  adversary. 
Another  of  his  wiles  consists  in  establishing  among  men 
false  standards  for  determining  the  rectitude  of  their  con- 
duct. Whatever  supremacy  may  be  given  in  theory  to  the 
word  of  God  as  the  rule  of  moral  conduct,  practically  it  is 
not  allowed  to  occupy  that  exalted  position  in  the  world. 
For  those  who  profess  decided  piety,  and  have  avowedly 
adopted  the  revealed  will  of  God  as  their  rule  of  life,  this 
standard  may  be  regarded  as  well  enough,  but  even  such  are 
often  considered  as  over  rigid,  and  the  high  requirements 
of  the  Scriptures  are  discarded  as  too  far  beyond  the  ordi- 


28       THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


nary  attainments  of  mankind  to  be  adapted  to  the  general 
tone  and  practices  of  society.  Some  code  more  pliant,  and 
falling  in  more  naturally  with  the  general  propensities  and 
habits  of  human  nature,  must  be  resorted  to — something 
not  so  stringent  and  unreasonable  as  the  Bible. 

Hence  is  it,  that  many  who  would  admit  that  their  lives 
will  not  for  one  moment  bear  examination  under  the  light 
of  scriptural  truth,  are  yet  quite  contented  with  the  reflec- 
tion, that  according  to  the  principles  prevalent  among  men 
their  characters  cannot  be  adjudged  unfavourably.  They 
are  as  truthful,  honest,  observant  of  the  coimnon  proprie- 
ties of  life  as  most  men,  and  this  in  a  measure  satisfies 
them. 

Hence  with  little  compunction  they  can  practise  decep- 
tion in  trade,  live  at  enmity  with  their  fellows,  use  the 
tongue  of  slander  freely,  pursue  the  gay  pleasures  of  so- 
ciety, and,  taking  vengeance  in  their  own  hands,  even,  per- 
haps, destroy  life  itself  according  to  the  "  code  of  honour," 
because  the  world  tolerates  and  applauds  many  of  these 
practices.  Getting  the  better  in  bargains,  according  to  this 
standard  of  morals,  is  no  longer  theft;  nor  deception,  false- 
hood; nor  covetousness,  idolatry;  nor  the  lustful  feeling  or 
thought,  adultery;  nor  inordinate  anger,  murder. 

All  departments    of  the  world,  indeed,  in  this  respect 


THE    ENEMY.  29 


seem  to  have  been  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  Satan's  empire. 
The  godless  system  of  morality  has  pervaded  every  thing. 
Men  who  have  set  at  defiance  all  the  divine  laws  are  ren- 
dered illustrious  in  the  world's  history.  The  same  spirit  is 
embodied  in  most  fascinating  features  in  works  of  fiction ; 
it  is  the  ruling  spirit  of  much  of  poetic  song ;  it  has  in- 
wrought itself  with  the  legislation  of  the  world,  and  main- 
tained so  fully  and  universally  its  dominion,  that  it  is  not 
surprising  that  Satan,  who  is  its  author,  should  consider 
himself  as  of  right  possessing  "  the  kingdoms  of  the  world." 
If  philosophy,  history,  fiction,  poetry,  legislation  in  the 
main,  all  the  departments  of  the  great  world,  are  on  the 
same  moral  platform  with  the  individual  transgressor  of 
God's  law,  why  should  he  regard  himself  as  a  sijiner  of 
high  degree  ?  May  he  not  rather  be  satisfied  that  he  is  with 
the  multitude,  and  thus  lull  conscience  to  rest  ?  May  not 
even  the  children  of  God  fall  under  the  influence  of  the  all- 
prevailing  principles  of  the  world,  until  they  lose  the  vitality 
and  power  of  spiritual  religion,  and  thus  fall  into  these 
skilfully  wrought  "  wiles  of  the  devil  ?" 

Nowhere,  how^ever,  do  Satan's  devices  appear  more  pro- 
minently than  in  the  unreal  importance  with  which  he  in- 
vests the  things  of  the  present  life,  as  to  their  own  intrinsic 

worth.    The  same  kingdoms  of  the  world  which  he  proffered 

3* 


o 


0        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


to  our  Lord,  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  he  has  still  held 
in  reserve  as  a  bait  to  ensnare  the  souls  of  men.  These 
kingdoms,  indeed,  are  not  his  own.  He  is  permitted  to 
exercise  over  them  a  limited  authority,  and  pervert  them 
for  a  season  to  his  own  purposes,  but  the  title  to  them  is 
still  in  the  Most  High,  and  in  due  season  he  will  dethrone 
the  usurper,  and  assert  and  maintain  his  own  right. 

The  character  of  Satan  as  the  arch-deceiver,  appears 
most  conspicuously  in  this  delusion  which  he  throws  over 
human  souls,  as  to  the  intrinsic  importance  of  things  tem- 
poral. He  brings  them  under  a  spell  which  no  mortal 
power  can  break ;  he  creates  an  infatuation  which  bears 
them  headlong  onwards  in  the  pursuit  of  the  very  objects 
which  divine  revelation  and  their  own  experience  have 
pronounced  vanity ;  and  though  this  verdict  is  reiterated  at 
every  step,  and  their  own  disappointed  hearts  cry  out 
in  agony,"  all  is  vanity,"  yet  bewildered  and  deluded  they 
still  press  on,  "  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his  will." 
Truly,  madness  is  in  their  hearts  while  they  live. 

How  readily  the  great  adversary  seizes  upon  things  in 
themselves  law^ful,  as  instruments  of  deception  and  ruin  I 
The  general  fact  that  the  accumulation  of  this  world's 
goods,  in  an  honest  calling,  is  an  object  approved  by  the 
word  of  God,  is  ground  enough  for  him  to  occupy,  that  he 


T  n  E     E  N  E  M  Y  .  31 


may  use  the  pursuit  of  the  world  as  a  capital  artifice  to 
molest  or  destroy  souls. 

Let  us,  for  a  moment,  follow  the  progress  of  his  wiles 
in  this  respect.  Here  is  the  man  of  some  reputable 
occupation,  industrious,  frugal,  judicious,  and  slowly,  but 
surely,  prosperous.  As  yet  he  cannot  be  said  to  have 
fully  imbibed  the  love  of  gold  for  itself,  nor  sold  himself 
outright  to  the  sordid  thing.  But  he  is  succeeding 
beyond  previous  expectation,  and  with  the  increase  of 
goods  his  desires  enlarge,  and  he  is  now  still  more  econo- 
mical, absorbed  with  his  business,  and  less  disposed  for 
deeds  of  charity.  Heretofore  the  thought  of  being  very 
rich  scarcely  occurred  to  him ;  success  has  now  suggested 
the  possibility  of  such  a  result ;  and  he  readjusts  his 
schemes,  becomes  if  possible  even  more  industrious,  frugal, 
keen  in  bargaining,  and  still  more  reluctant  to  part  with 
his  money.  Indeed,  frugality  has  grown  into  meanness, 
adroitness  in  trade  to  trickiness  and  fraud,  and  love  of  gold 
to  downright  avarice.  To  all  intents  and  purposes,  lucre 
is  now  his  god. 

True,  he  has  not  melted  the  gold  in  a  crucible,  forged  it 
into  an  image,  lighted  before  it  his  lamp,  burned  his 
incense,  and  prostrated  himself  in  adoration ;  but  the  gold 
has  the  faculty  of  transmuting  itself  into  houses,  lands, 


32  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


stocks,  and  all  varieties  of  worldly  goods,  and  then  this 
hydra-headed  monster  which  it  has  become,  is  the  god 
adored  ;  for  though  the  knees  are  not  bended  to  it,  nor  the 
smoking  incense  burned  before  it,  yet  the  thoughts  are 
there  by  day  and  night,  through  the  week  and  on  the 
Sabbath ;  and  the  affections  of  the  heart  are  so  there,  that 
for  it  no  labour  is  too  great,  no  sacrifice  too  dear, — friends, 
home,  health,  almost  life  itself  are  freely  laid  on  the  shrine. 
Is  not  this  man  an  idolater  ?  is  not  Mammon  his  deity  ?  As 
surely  as  is  the  poor  Pagan,  who  in  his  blindness  bows  down 
to  stocks  and  stones,  or  beasts  and  birds,  or  to  the  magnifi- 
cent array  of  the  firmament  above,  an  idolater,  just  so 
surely  is  this  man  of  Christian  lands  an  idolater  too.  His 
temple  is  the  mart  of  business ;  his  deity  the  great  Mam- 
mon ;  his  incense  the  sincere,  fervent  love  of  his  inmost 
heart,  and  the  frequent,  extreme  adulation  of  honest  lips ; 
and  his  prostrations  are  the  unceasing  toils  of  every  energy 
of  both  mind  and  body  through  almost  every  moment  of 
his  life.  Were  the  "  god  of  this  world"  seeking  for  a 
devoted  worshipper  to  whom  he  could  point  as  a  pattern 
and  stimulus  to  others,  could  he  ask  for  an  illustration  of 
adoration  more  entire,  of  service  more  complete  ? 

Full  well  does  Satan  know  that  "  the  friendship  of  the 
world  is  enmity  against  God ;"  that  "  if  any  man  love  the 


T  H  E     E  N  E  M  Y .  33 


world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him ;"  that  no  man 
can  serve  both  God  and  Mammon,  and  that  as  he  has 
effectually  succeeded  in  enshrining  Mammon  in  the  sanc- 
tuary of  the  soul,  just  as  effectually  must  he  have  succeeded 
in  shutting  God  out  of  it.  Then,  too,  his  faithful  servant 
is  so  well  satisfied  with  this  god  of  gold,  admires  so  much 
its  beautiful  proportions,  the  nature  of  the  services  to  be 
rendered,  and  the  rich  rewards  promised,  that  he  would 
have  no  other  to  reign  over  him.  The  infatuation  is  com- 
plete. The  snare  has  not  been  laid  in  vain.  He  has  been 
caught  in  the  toils.  He  gives  his  immortal  interests  up  and 
makes  this  god  his  all. 

You  might  also  go  into  other  departments  of  the  world 
and  see  how  in  the  same  manner  the  god  of  this  world  has 
beguiled  some  into  the  pursuit  of  human  fame  and  station ; 
how  for  this  they  sacrifice  almost  every  earthly  good,  and 
make  ambition  the  idol  in  their  souls ;  or  how  others 
exhaust  the  giddy  rounds  of  pleasure  and  sensual  joy,  cry- 
ing, "  who  will  show  us  any  good  ?"  and  bringing  all  their 
strength,  and  treasure,  and  heart's  affections,  into  the 
"broad  road"  where,  in  the  train  of  revelry  and  sensual  joy, 
the  multitude  march  in  vast  procession  to  the  second  death. 
The  unnumbered  myriads  who  have  already  perished  from 
their  mad  infatuation  in  pursuing  these  empty  and  forbidden 


34  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


things ;  the  vast  multitudes  over  whom  the  world  now  holds 
its  unbroken  spell,  and  the  strong,  constant,  and  extensive 
influence  these  things  exert  in  retarding  the  progress  and 
crippling  the  energies  even  of  the  soldiers  of  the  cross, 
show  how  capital  a  device  "  the  world"  has  furnished  Satan, 
how  much  to  be  dreaded  and  warred  against  in  these  par- 
ticulars are  the  wiles  of  the  devil,  and  how  true  it  is  that 
our  warfare  is  not  simply  with  flesh  and  blood,  but  with 
principalities,  and  powers,  and  the  rulers  of  the  darkness 
of  this  world,  and  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places. 

The  more  prominent  devices  of  Satan  will  now  have  been 
brought  to  your  attention,  when  you  have  also  observed 
how  he  destroys  the  susceptibilities  of  the  soul  to  the  true 
importance  of  eternal  things.  To  many  of  the  truths  which 
have  to  do  with  the  world  beyond  the  grave,  he  gives  a 
flat  denial.  As  he  said  to  the  woman  in  Eden,  so  he  says 
to  many  who  are  halting  on  the  threshold  of  some  new 
transgression  for  fear  of  the  threatened  retribution,  "Ye 
shall  not  surely  die."  Fear  not  to  sin,  indulge  your  heart's 
desires,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  go  the  whole  round  of 
the  world's  follies,  ye  shall  not  surely  die. 

Is  it  not  thus  that  men  have  been  made  infidels  and 
atheists  ?  They  are  not  such  at  the  outset,  at  least  by  any 
logical  conviction  ;  they  are  made  such  by  the  determina- 


THE    ENEMY.  35 


tion  to  indulge  their  lusts, — to  live  without  God,  and  then 
by  the  lies  of  Satan,who  whispers  that  their  fears  of  retribu- 
tion for  such  sins  are  idle  follies. 

Their  native  corruptions  have  called  for  indulgences  on 
which  God  had  laid  his  prohibitory  mandate,  and  against 
which  he  has  declared  eternal  vengeance.  Satan  has  uro-ed 
them  to  satisfy  these  cravings  of  corruption,  laughed  at  their 
fears  of  threatened  vengeance,  and  they  have  committed  the 
iniquity,  and  then  echoing  the  words  of  the  arch  deceiver, 
have  declared  that  such  fears  were  but  the  dreams  of  the 
weak  and  superstitious  ;  that  there  is  no  hell,  that  there 
is  no  God,  or  if  there  be,  the  Bible  did  not  come  from 
him.  Evangelical  religion,  with  its  spiritual  self-denying 
doctrines,  is  scouted  ;  the  blessed  cross  of  Jesus  is  a  stumb- 
ling-block and  foolishness,  and  the  Church,  an  assemblage 
of  enthusiasts  and  hypocrites. 

Satan  has  here  done  his  work,  and  done  it  thoroughly. 
True,  conscience  may  sometimes  unsettle  these  sandy  found- 
ations, but  Satan  has  also  potent  drugs  with  which  to  lull 
conscience  to  profound  repose.  What  then  if  the  truths  of 
God  do  come  to  such  a  man  ?  what  if  the  wrath  of  God  is 
denounced  against  all  transgressors  ?  what  if  the  mercy  of 
God  is  set  forth  at  the  cross  ?  what  if  a  blessed  eternity  of 
purity  and  peace  is  promised  to  all  who  follow  the  footsteps 


36      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


of  the  meek  and  lowly  Saviour  ?  Not  one  of  all  these 
truths  affects  him,  for  he  is  an  unbeliever.  "  Satan  hath 
blinded  his  mind,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of 
Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should  shine  unto  him." 

But  even  where  men  are  not  plunged  into  the  dark  abyss 
of  infidelity,  does  there  not  prevail  amongst  them  a  fearful 
insensibility  to  everlasting  things  ?  Do  they  not  seem  to 
be  under  a  strong  delusion  as  to  the  reality  of  death,  judg- 
ment, heaven  and  hell,  and  all  the  momentous  interests  of 
their  immortality  ?  so  that  although  told  that  they  are  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins,  under  condemnation  already,  just 
awaiting  the  sentence  of  eternal  wrath,  and  pointed  to  the 
only  remedy  by  which  they  can  be  rescued  from  the  penalty 
and  quickened  into  life, — they  will  but  say.  This  is  all  true, 
and  we  ought  to  seek  the  remedy  at  once ;  and  then  turn 
straightway  to  their  farms,  or  merchandize,  or  pleasures 
again.  Is  there  not  a  strange  infatuation  here  ?  Has  not 
the  God  of  this  world  blinded  their  minds  ?  Alas  !  "  the 
wiles  of  the  devil  I" 

Even  the  children  of  God  fall  under  this  powerful  faculty 
of  Satan  for  destroying  the  impressions  of  the  importance 
of  eternal  things.  He  cannot,  indeed,  so  utterly  shut  out  a 
sense  of  everlasting  realities,  as  in  the  case  of  the  poor  infa- 
tuated worldlings,   but  he  can  still  so  war  against  their 


THE    ENEMY.  37 


most  accurate  and  absorbing  impressions  of  eternal  things, 
as  greatly  to  weaken  the  power  of  these  momentous  realities 
in  their  spiritual  lives  and  conduct.  Occasional  pantings 
after  more  of  the  knowledge  of  God  and  of  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  dissatisfaction  with  former  attainments,  repentings 
over  past  short-comings,  and  resolutions  after  new  obedience 
do  indeed  arise  in  the  bosoms  of  the  children  of  the  king- 
dom. Feeling  the  claims  of  covenant  obligations,  of  a 
Saviour  crucified,  and  of  a  world  perishing  in  sin,  they  sigh 
after  more  of  the  mind  that  was  in  Him  who  went  about 
doing  good  ;  they  read  of  the  zeal  of  a  Paul,  White- 
field,  McCheyne,  Harlan  Page,  Hannah  More,  or  Lady 
Colquhoun ;  and  long  to  be  baptized  with  the  same  spirit, 
and  for  a  time  do  seem  to  be  reaching  after  a  higher  state 
of  usefulness  and  piety ;  but  it  is  too  often  only  for  a  time. 
Satan  whispers  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  being  zealous 
overmuch,  or  that  the  great  mass  of  Christians  seem  to  be 
doing  no  more  than  they  themselves  have  been  wont  to  do  ; 
that  Paul,  Whitefield,  and  such  like,  were  remarkable 
persons,  whose  characters  are  not  to  be  the  standard  for 
ordinary  believers  ;  that  any  effort  to  imitate  such  piety  and 
usefulness  would  seem  singular  and  occasion  remark,  and 
that  at  any  rate  their  position  and  talents  would  enable 
them   to   accomplish   but   little ; — and   hence  their  better 


08  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS 


thoughts  and  resolutions  are  suppressed,  and  to  their  former 
low,  sluggish,  formal  standard  do  they  sink  again,  ensnared 
by  these  wiles  of  the  devil. 

And  though  Satan  cannot  extort  from  the  believer  a  flat 
denial  of  the  great  truths  of  God's  word,  he  can  yet  suggest 
the  most  painful  doubts,  and  overcloud  his  spirit  with  at 
least  some  of  the  murky  vapors  from  the  world  of  atheism. 
Oftentimes  may  the  Christian  be  tempted  to  question  the  con- 
sistency of  certain  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  or  to  murmur  at 
the  providences  of  God.  And  though  he  will  not  deny  the 
great  truths  of  the  gospel,  he  may  be  led  to  deny  for  a  time 
his  own  interest  in  them,  and  thus  remain  shut  up  in 
gloomy  despair,  cheerless  in  his  own  heart  and  unprofitable 
in  the  church.  Terrified  and  despairing  before  the  "roar- 
ing lion,"  or  allured  and  deceived  by  the  assumed  form  of 
"  the  angel  of  lio;ht,"  he  is  too  often  in  a  measure  over- 
come,  fails  to  tread  Satan  under  foot  as  he  should  do,  and 
is  hindered  in  his  heavenward  march. 

The  Romans  were  accustomed  to  call  the  baggage  with 
which  their  army  was  incumbered  "impedimenta,"  hin- 
drances, because  the  transportation  of  this  baggage  retarded 
their  progress  ;  so,  although  the  evil  one  cannot  destroy  the 
soldier  of  the  army  of  salvation,  he  can  annoy  him,  and  cast 
about  him  so  many  discouragements  as  greatly  to  cripple  his 


THE    ENEMY.  39 


energies  and  impede  his  upward  progress.  These  toils  of 
the  devil  are  the  "  impedimenta"  of  the  spiritual  hosts,  hy 
which  the  believer  is  led  to  halt,  to  turn  aside  from  his  onward 
course,  to  slumber  at  his  post,  and  give  way  to  discourage- 
ments, until  he  is  far  from  accomplishing  the  high  attainments 
which  were  within  his  reach,  and  at  last  is  called  away  from 
the  scene  of  his  warfare  with  many  of  his  glorious  aspira- 
tions unfulfilled,  with  sad  regrets  over  so  much  of  the  work 
of  life  to  be  left  undone.  Alas !  the  wiles  of  the  devil  I 
Truly  our  warfare  is  not  with  flesh  and  blood  alone,  but 
with  principalities  and  powers,  and  the  rulers  of  the  dark- 
ness of  this  world,  and  spiritual  wickedness, — may  we  not 
say — even  in  heavenly  places. 


40       THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT. 

"  That  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  in  the  evil  day." 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  those  who  are  called  to  be  sol- 
diers of  Christ,  and  to  the  cause  itself,  not  specially  to  notice 
the  seasons  of  trial  to  which  the  Christian  warrior  may  be 
exposed, — the  occasions  in  which  the  power  of  the  enemy 
must  be  experienced.  A  skilful  soldier  will  endeavour  to 
make  himself  acquainted  in  advance  with  his  fields  of  ex- 
pected conflict ;  to  learn  where  the  enemy  will  most  proba- 
bly make  his  assaults,  and  under  what  circumstances  he  must 
prepare  for  the  most  desperate  and  deadly  struggles.  A 
man  of  war  is  the  Christian  soldier,  and  that  from  the  outset. 
No  sooner  has  he  girded  on  the  harness  than  the  tocsin  calls 
him  to  arms ;  and  so  frequent  and  numerous  are  these  calls 
that  before  he  at  last  lays  aside  his  armour  he  will  have  been 
the  hero  of  far  more  than  a  thousand  battle-fields.     These 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT.        41 


seasons  of  conflict  are  his  times  of  greatest  trial,  and  hence 
the  apostle  has  designated  them  by  the  term  "  evil  day." 

In  the  widest  acceptation  of  this  term,  the  entire  life  of 
the  believer  is  an  evil  day.  Never  is  he  entirely  free  from 
the  body  of  death ;  never  does  Satan  altogether  suspend 
his  dangerous  and  distressing  wiles.  The  remains  of  cor- 
ruption still  cling  to  the  soul  even  amidst  its  highest  attain- 
ments, and  in  the  most  advanced  stages  of  the  spiritual  life  ; 
and  faith  is  never  so  strong,  nor  zeal  nor  love  so  great  that 
there  is  no  longer  reason  for  dissatisfaction  with  self  and  all 
its  works.  As  long  as  there  is  within  the  soul  that  which 
reminds  us  of  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  we  were  digged  ; 
as  long  as  we  are  still  compelled  to  say,  "  Lord,  I  believe, 
help  thou  my  unbelief,"  even  though  our  hope  be  steadfast, 
and  our  joys  abound,  it  will,  it  must  be  to  the  child  of  God 
an  evil  day.  His  great  desire  is  to  get  the  victory  over 
the  last  of  his  lusts, — to  be  free  from  sin.  He  earnestly 
yearns  after  sweeter  communion  with  his  Lord,  for  com- 
plete deliverance  and  perfect  sanctification,  and 

"  Longs  for  evening  to  undress, 
That  he  may  rest  with  God." 

"  Few  and  evil,"  said  the  patriarch,  "  have  been  the  days 

of  my  pilgrimage,"   and    yet    that   pilgrimage   had    been 

4* 


42  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


signally  marked  by  the  divine  favour,  and  by  his  personal 
fidelity  and  devotion.  But  it  had  been  a  pilgrimage 
through  the  wilderness  of  a  sinful  world.  Often  had  the 
patriarch  trodden  his  solitary  way  with  weary  foot  and 
heavy  heart ;  often  had  he  thought  of  the  end  of  the  journey, 
of  the  crossing  of  the  stream,  of  the  rest  beyond,  where  the 
weary  feet  and  heavy  heart  would  be  known  and  felt  no 
more.  The  candidate  for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  can- 
not but  regard,  in  some  sense,  the  period  which  keeps 
him  from  that  "land  of  pure  delight"  as  an  evil  time. 
How  can  he  who  loathes  sin,  mourns  over  imperfections, 
pants  for  perfect  holiness,  feel  otherwise  than  that  the  day 
which  keeps  him  in  contact  with  sins  and  infirmities  is  an 
"  evil  day  ?" 

There  are,  however,  seasons  of  special  trial  occurring  all 
along  the  march  of  the  pilgrim  soldier,  which  he  may 
peculiarly  regard  as  to  him  the  "  evil  day."  Amongst 
these  you  will  doubtless  recognise  times  of  spiritual  despon- 
dency. All  believers  are  subject  to  more  or  less  of 
fluctuation  in  their  religious  experience.  With  all  there  is 
more  or  less  of  both  sunshine  and  clouds  in  the  spiritual 
firmament ;  but  the  clouds  predominate  much  more  over 
the  sunshine  with  some  than  with  others.  Constitutional 
differences  give  tone  to  religious  character.     Those  of  a 


THE    EVIL    DAT    OF    THE    CONFLICT.         43 


joyful  sanguine  temperament  most  frequently  make  happy 
Christians,  whilst  the  naturally  timid  and  desponding 
carry  the  spirit  of  fearfulness  and  sadness  into  their  reli- 
gion. Long  experience  in  the  Christian  life  may  render 
such  seasons  of  despondency  less  frequent  and  distressing 
even  with  those  whose  constitutional  tendencies  are  most 
strongly  in  that  direction ;  but  more  or  less  of  spiritual 
depression  belongs  to  all,  at  some  stage  of  their  course. 

To  the  young  and  inexperienced  believer,  such  seasons 
are  at  times  painful  beyond  all  expression.  The  visions  of 
the  spiritual  world  had  burst  on  him  whilst  sitting  on  the 
very  borders  of  despair,  and  he  had  welcomed  the  entranc- 
ing prospects  of  a  bright  and  joyful  pilgrimage  to  a  bright 
and  heavenly  home.  He  was  translated  from  darkness  to 
light ;  he  was  ransomed  from  bondage ;  he  had  a  new  song 
put  into  his  mouth,  his  feet  set  upon  the  rock  of  ages,  and  he 
had  a  good  hope  through  grace  of  everlasting  life.  He  was 
filled  with  wonder  and  surprise,  and  amazed  that  he  could 
have  so  long  refused  such  divine  blessings.  Heaven  seemed 
begun  on  earth,  begun  in  his  own  soul.  He  thought 
it  would  always  be  thus.     Sad  mistake  I 

Soon  the  tempter, who  had  seemed  to  have  been  smitten 
with  a  deadly  blow,  shows  that  he  has  not  been  altogether 
conquered.     Former  appetites  and  passions   again   crave 


44  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


indulgence.  Evil  thoughts  enter  the  mind  and  mingle  with 
the  most  sacred  employments.  The  heavenly  joys  are 
departed,  the  sweet  communings  of  the  closet  gone,  and 
the  sanctuary  affords  but  little  comfort.  This  state  of 
things  is  new  and  unexpected ;  the  inexperienced  saint 
understands  not  the  meaning  of  the  change,  and  is  alarmed. 
Then  comes  the  tempter,  saying.  All  this  late  experience 
was  a  mistake,  you  never  have  been  converted ;  no  Chris- 
tian could  feel  as  you  do ;  it  is  useless  for  you  to  profess 
what  you  do  not  possess, — it  is  worse,  it  is  base  hypocrisy. 
Abandon  then  your  praying,  Bible-reading,  and  religious 
profession,  and  seem  to  be  no  more  than  in  reality  you 
are.  Then  comes  the  season  of  bitter  anguish,  often  of 
deep  despair.  The  poor,  joyless,  disconsolate,  bewildered, 
broken-hearted  disciple  knows  not  whither  he  shall  flee. 
"  O  that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove !  then  would  I  fly 
away,  and  be  at  rest."  "I  sink  in  deep  waters  where 
there  is  no  standing."  "  Deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the 
noise  of  thy  water-spouts ;  all  thy  waves  and  thy  billows 
are  gone  over  me."     To  him  this  is  an  "evil  day." 

Other  seasons  occur  throughout  the  spiritual  life,  when 
the  old  Adam  seems  to  have  been  aroused  to  his  utmost, 
and  when  Satan  assaults  us  with  almost  resistless  power. 
Passions,  which  we  hoped  had  been  subdued,  awake  as  if 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE     CONFLICT.  45 


only  refreshed  from  their  slumbers,  and  cry  for  indulgence 
with  a  clamour,  fierceness,  and  pertinacity,  absolutely  appal- 
ling. A  mighty  conflict  ensues,  and  deadly  are  the  hostile 
forces.     Happy  the  soldier  who  stands  in  this  evil  day. 

A  time  of  spiritual  declension  and  worldliness  in  the 
Church  may  also  be  regarded  as  an  "evil  day."  The 
spirit  of  piety  in  the  Church  is  always  far  below  the  proper 
standard,  but  there  are  times  when  it  sinks  even  much  lower 
than  the  ordinary  level.  How  often  did  the  God  of  Israel 
chide  and  chasten  his  ancient  people  for  their  rebellion,  dis- 
obedience, idolatry,  and  ingratitude ;  and  the  Church  now, 
unhappily,  too  much  resembles  that  of  the  former  and  the 
darker  dispensation. 

There  is  a  winter  season  in  Zion  as  well  as  in  the  na- 
tural world,  and  these  winters  are  sometimes  long  and 
dreary.  Few  flowers  and  fruits  are  seen,  few  days  of 
sunshine ;  a  universal  torpor  prevails,  and  under  the  chill- 
ing blasts  even  the  soldiers  of  the  cross  are  found  sleeping 
at  their  posts  ;  the  army  of  salvation  seems  almost  frozen  in 
its  onward  march.  Within  the  doors  of  the  heart,  in  the 
meantime,  false  fires  are  lighted,  strange  guests  are  invited, 
and  sin,  Satan,  and  the  world,  hold  their  festivals.  The 
prophets  prophesy  to  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people, 
the  solemn  assemblies  are  forsaken,  objects  of  benevolence 


46  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


and  piety  languish,  few  enlist  as  recruits  in  the  spiritual 
hosts,  and  the  warfare  with  the  great  enemy  is  feebly  sus- 
tained. Such  seasons  of  spiritual  declension  are  sometimes 
general  over  a  whole  country,  and  throughout  all  branches 
of  the  Church,  so  that  for  years  but  little  impression  is 
made  on  the  kingdom  of  darkness,  and  large  ingatherings 
of  souls  are  scarcely  heard  of. 

Now  to  maintain  a  high  state  of  spirituality,  and  an  active 
Christian  life,  is  under  any  circumstances  arduous  ;  but  when 
all  without  and  around  us  is  so  inauspicious,  how  much 
more  difficult  to  breathe  the  spirit  and  bring  forth  the  fruits 
of  an  humble,  fervent  piety!  There  is  a  contagion  in  the 
circumstances  which  surround  the  individual  believer.  He 
sees  his  own  downward  tendencies  and  bewails  his  unfaith- 
fulness ;  he  remembers  the  peace  and  joy  which  attend  a 
course  of  humble  devotion,  and  his  heart  feebly  purposes  to 
pursue  the  "  more  excellent  way,"  which  his  better  judg- 
ment and  conscience  approve,  but  everywhere  he  encoun- 
ters the  strong  current  of  worldliness  and  formality,  his 
better  thoughts  forsake  him,  and  he  falls  in  with  the  down- 
ward tide. 

"While  men  thus  slept"  it  was  that  "the  enemy  came 
and  sowed  tares."  The  children  of  the  kingdom  slumber 
at  their  posts,  but  their  enemy  knows  no    sleep  nor  weari- 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE     CONFLICT.        47 


ness.  For  him  no  season  is  more  propitious  than  one  of 
general  spiritual  declension  in  the  Church.  Principles  and 
practices,  which  in  more  auspicious  times  would  have 
found  no  favor  with  professing  Christians,  are  now  tolerated 
and  indulged  in.  Worldly  amusements  turn  aside  the 
pilgrim  soldiers  from  the  self-denials  and  hardships  of  the 
camp ;  strict  discipline  is  unpopular  and  uncommon,  and 
great  laxity  of  Christian  morals  and  practice  prevail.  Such 
seasons  are  also  the  harvest  times  for  religious  speculation 
and  false  philosophy.  Simple  gospel  truth  is  regarded  as 
somewhat  obsolete,  and  not  up  to  the  advanced  intelligence 
of  the  times ;  and  as  men  must  have  something  to  interest 
them  in  the  department  of  religion,  they  demand  more 
novel  themes  from  the  pulpit,  little  scrupulous  as  to  their 
character,  and  are  lost  in  admiration  of  the  subtle,  inge- 
nious, self-styled  philosopher,  who  strikes  out  some  path 
which  he  and  they  may  deem  new,  but  which  the  more 
humble  and  better  informed  know  was  discovered  and  re- 
nounced long  before  these  neophytes  were  born.  Could 
you  but  penetrate  to  the  more  retired  life  of  indivi- 
dual Christians  at  such  times,  how  sad  a  tale  would  be 
told ;  how  rare  wrestlings  of  the  closet,  self-examination, 
faithful  searchings  of  the  Scriptures, — how  weak  the 
faith. 


48      THE  SOLDIEROF  THE  CROSS, 


"  How  low  the  hope  of  joys  above, 
How  few  affections  there." 

Truly,  this  is  an  evil  day. 

More  evil  still  than  this,  however,  is  the  clay,  when  the 
believer  actually  backslides,  and  falls  into  open  sin.  In  the 
great  spiritual  warfare  between  the  soldiers  of  light  and 
darkness,  as  in  the  struggles  of  other  armies,  there  may  be 
occasions  when,  to  human  observation,  the  event  of  the  day 
seems  doubtful, — when  the  hitherto  victorious  forces  are 
apparently  not  only  checked  in  their  career,  but  actually 
driven  back  for  a  time.  Sad  seasons  of  discomfiture 
have  occurred  to  every  soldier  of  the  cross,  extremely 
sad  to  some.  The  supineness  and  lethargy  of  a  state 
of  spiritual  declension  has  not  been  unobserved  by  the 
wily  adversary ;  and  what  better  opportunity  can  there 
be  for  some  masterly  stroke  upon  the  kingdom  of 
light  ?  How  propitious  the  period  for  entrapping  some  of 
the  friends  of  Zion  into  the  commission  of  a  glaring  act  of 
transgression !  Thus  was  the  "  man  after  God's  ow^n  heart" 
ensnared  ;  and  thus  also,  if  not  in  time  of  spiritual  declen- 
sion, at  least  in  time  of  self-confidence  and  spiritual  pride, 
fell  the  man  who  had  said,"  though  all  men  should  forsake 
thee,  yet  will  not  I."  You  may  not,  reader,  fall  into 
David's  or  Peter's  sin,  but  if  living  in  sloth  and   carnal 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE     CONFLICT.        49 


security,  you  know  not  how  soon  Satan  may  be  upon 
you,  and  taking  you  unawares,  may  entrap  you  into 
some  enormous  transgression.  Then  how  will  the  light 
of  your  Heavenly  Father's  countenance  be  withdrawn  ;  how 
will  self-reproach,  shame,  and  remorse  fill  your  deso- 
late bosom ;  how  will  your  Saviour  be  wounded  in  the 
house  of  his  friends ;  how  will  your  memory  be  furnished 
with  food  for  lasting  sorrow  I — what  an  evil  day  will 
that  be ! 

A  time  of  absence  from  your  home,  or  of  changing  your 
place  of  abode,  may  also  prove  "  an  evil  day."  We  are 
much  more  the  creatures  of  circumstances,  even  in  our  reli- 
gion, than  most  of  us  are  wont  to  believe.  On  making  a 
public  profession  of  religion,  we  virtually  announce  to  those 
around  us  that  we  are  henceforth  to  be  regarded  as  the 
followers  of  Christ, — that  from  this  time  they  must  not 
look  for  us  amongst  the  multitude  who  do  evil,  but  expect 
us  to  act  according  to  the  acknowledged  regimen  of  con- 
sistent church  members ;  and  a  systematic  arrangement 
for  a  corresponding  public  and  private  life  are  at  the  same 
time  adopted.  Henceforth,  as  far  as  this  outward  position 
is  concerned,  the  circumstances  remaining  the  same,  there 
is  little  difficulty  to  be  encountered.  Indeed,  the  diffi- 
culties are  the   other  way,  for  men  would  now  wonder 

5 


50        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


much  more  to  see  you  practically  deny  your  profession 
than  act  in  accordance  with  it. 

Suppose,  however,  these  circumstances  should  be  changed, 
either  temporarily  or  permanently,  and  this  professed  soldier 
of  Christ  be  thrown  out  of  his  usual  associations.  His  new 
acquaintances  do  not  know  him  to  be  a  Christian.  He 
persuades  himself  that  there  is  no  necessity  for  announcing 
this  fact  as  yet,  and  acquaintances  are  formed  and  culti- 
vated in  an  ever-widening  circle,  not  one  of  whom  look 
upon  him  as  anything  more  than  a  worldling.  In  the 
meantime  he  is  losing  his  interest  in  the  duties  and  privi^ 
leges  of  the  children  of  the  kingdom;  not  being  recognised  as 
professedly  such,  there  is  little  restraint  upon  his  conduct; 
and  the  sacramental  table  being  neglected,  so  also  soon  is 
the  closet,  and  the  sanctuary  itself  is  irregularly  attended, 
and  the  Sabbath  anything  else  than  kept  holy.  A  sad 
decline  indeed  is  this,  reader ;  worse  than  sad  thus  to  deny 
your  Master  before  men.  If  such  has  been  your  history, you 
have  for  the  time  concealed  and  failed  to  use  your  panoply, 
you  have  repudiated  your  connection  with  the  armies 
of  light,  and  have  ostensibly  enrolled  yourself  with  the 
enemy.  How  many  such  are  found  amongst  the  emigrants 
to  the  newer  portions  of  our  land.  Church-members  they 
had  been  in  their  former  homes, — perhaps  not  inactive  mem- 


THE    EVIL    DAY     OF     THE     CONFLICT.        51 


bers  ;  church-members  they  are  not  now.  How  many  thus 
also  deny  their  Lord  in  temporary  journeyings  from  the 
place  of  their  customary  abode  and  church-going, — during  a 
summer's  relaxation  it  may  be,  at  a  public  watering-place, 
where  worldliness  musters  so  strongly,  and  men  to  stand  up 
for  the  gospel  and  the  Christian  life  are  so  much  needed  ; 
or  in  wanderings  through  foreign  lands,  where,  though 
almost  alone,  and  a  mere  wayfaring  man,  something  might 
be  done  to  leave  an  impression  on  the  strong  holds  of  sin 
and  Satan  there  I  Has  it  been  thus  with  you  ?  An  evil 
day  truly  then  was  that. 


52  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  EVIL  DAY  OF  THE  CONFLICT. 

"  That  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  in  the  evil  day." 

Not  in  vain  is  the  Christian  forewarned  of  an  enemy  and 
provided  with  an  armor.  He  becomes  personally  acquainted 
with  this  enemy,  and  that  right  speedily.  His  is  no  holi- 
day soldiership.  He  is  not  furnished  with  an  imposing 
military  vesture  simply  that  he  may  join  the  pageantry  of 
festival  occasions,  and  spend  all  his  life  far  away  from  the 
hardships  of  the  cam]),  and  the  tumult  and  danger  of  the 
battle-field.  You  have  already  been  shown  some  of  the 
scenes  of  the  conflict  where  the  warrior  is  contending  in 
the  evil  day,  but  still  others  remain  which  must  not  pass 
unobserved. 

Turn  next,  then,  to  the  survey  of  the  "  evil  day"  when 
false  doctrine  j)revails. 


THE     EVIL    DAY    OF     THE     CONFLICT.        53 


Times  there  are,  however,  in  the  church,  when  many 
will  "  not  endure  sound  doctrine ;"  such  times  there  have 
always  been  since  the  days  of  our  Lord  and  his  apostles ; 
such  times  to  some  extent  are  these  in  which  we  live. 
"  Having  itching  ears,"  have  not  many  fulfilled  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  apostle,  and  "heaped  to  themselves  teachers," 
and  "  turned  away  their  ears  from  the  truth,  and  turned 
unto  fables  ?"  Have  not  some,  at  least,  become  weary  of 
the  old  and  beaten  track  in  theology,  and  sought  for  new 
and  more  attractive  ways  of  setting  forth  things  divine  ?  The 
time  has  been  when  the  highest  achievement  of  a  human 
mind  was  to  gras]^  abstruse  and  difficult  subjects  of  thought, 
and  make  them  so  clear  and  palpable  as  to  fall  within 
the  easy  comprehension  even  of  the  most  unlearned  ;  we  are 
not  certain  that  with  some  in  our  day,  to  take  the  simplest 
truths  and  clothe  them  in  such  mystery  that  neither  he  who 
writes  nor  they  who  read  can  comprehend  them,  is  not  re- 
garded as  altogether  the  highest  intellectual  estate — the 
loftiest  achievement  of  genius.  Either  old  truths  or  posi- 
tive errors  are  dressed  up  by  hard  labour  in  an  unintelligible 
diction,  and  then  the  author  looks  upon  himself  as  a  prodigy 
of  a  philosopher,  in  the  lead  even  of  "  the  advanced  party" 
in  the  forces  of  the  so-called  reform,  and  not  a  few  are  there 

to  echo  his  swelling  words,  and  tread  in  his  erratic  footsteps. 

5* 


54  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


Thus  have  the  very  fundamentals  of  the  spiritual  kingdom 
been  assailed. 

Those  there  have  been,  also,  who,  having  turned  away 
from  sound  doctrine,  and  given  heed  to  "endless  genealo- 
gies," have  seemed  to  count  it  of  much  more  consequence 
that  a  man  be  found  in  connection  with  an  outward  "  suc- 
cession," than  that  he  cherish  in  his  heart,  and  show  forth  in 
his  life,  the  graces  of  the  gospel ;  who  have  turned  away 
attention  from  Christ  to  mere  ordinances,  from  "  the  cross 
in  the  heart  to  that  on  the  house-top,"  from  seeking  after 
the  bread  of  life,  whereon  to  feed  and  live,  to  "  looking  for 
the  Church."  Nor  have  the  advocates  of  such  sentiments 
been  idle.  Skilfully,  vigorously,  and  perseveringly  have 
they  waged  their  warfare  against  evangelical  truth,  and  but 
too  successful  has  that  warfare  been.  How  many  who  once 
sat  under  the  teachings  of  men  who  faithfully  and  fully  ex- 
pounded the  whole  counsel  of  God,  have  now  taken  to 
themselves  itching  ears,  and  refused  longer  to  endure  sound 
doctrine,  and  turned  unto  fables ;  and  will,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
make  dreadful  shipwreck  of  themselves,  and  bear  others 
with  them  as  they  are  dashed  on  the  dark  and  desolate 
strands  of  "some  other  gospel."  Such  are  the  times 
which  try  men's  souls, — the  times  when  you  are  called 
upon  to  "  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF     THE     CONFLICT.        55 


the  saints,"  to  prove  all  things,  and  hold  fast  that  which  is 
good, — such  we  may  well  call  an  "evil  day." 

We  must  not  omit,  however,  to  turn  our  attention  also  to 
the  evil  day  of  rebuke  and  persecution. 

Such  days  are  not  now,  perhaps,  for  you,  reader,  but  you 
may  yet  be  called  to  see  them.  Satan  seems  at  present  to 
have  chosen  the  opposite  method  of  assault  upon  the  Church. 
He  has  allowed  his  friends  to  speak  well  of  religion,  to 
become  ostensibly  its  admirers,  even  to  enlist  nominally  under 
its  banner.  He  has  persuaded  the  armies  of  salvation  that 
the  most  effectual  mode  of  pushing  forward  their  conquests 
is  to  relax  their  terms  of  admission,  to  soften  their  rigid 
discipline,  and  cultivate  amicable  relations  with  the  hostile 
world,  by  adopting  its  policy,  and  compromising  with  its 
claims — by  resorting  to  such  pomp  and  glare  as  is  attrac- 
tive to  the  unregenerate,  and  by  giving  an  easy  license  to 
sensual  pleasures. 

Still  the  time  has  been — and  that  time  will  come  again — 
when  the  friends  of  Zion,  having  stood  firm  and  un- 
flinching for  the  truth,  and  refused  to  yield  one  iota 
to  Satan,  and  made  fierce  war  upon  his  hosts,  have 
been  forced  to  pass,  in  return,  through  a  baptism  of  fire 
and  of  blood ;  "  principalities  and  powers"  have  been 
leagued    against   them,    and   draw^n  the   sword,  prepared 


56  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


the  dungeons,  and  lighted  the  fires,  for  the  making  of 
martyrs.  And  sadly  have  the  hosts  of  the  Lord  suffered 
in  such  evil  days.  Their  bones  have  lain  thick  on 
Alpine  snows,  their  blood  has  run  like  water  on  the  plains 
of  France,  their  flesh  has  been  roasted  in  Smithfield's  fires, 
and  the  "  little  flock,"  terrified  and  stricken,  has  sought 
refuge  in  the  valleys  and  caves  of  Scotland,  or  fled  across  a 
wild  ocean  to  find  a  refuge  in  the  western  wilderness. 

Such  evil  days,  indeed,  have  not  now  entirely  passed 
away,  for  as  evangelical  religion  revives  in  the  dominions 
of  that  scarlet  mother  of  abominations,  who  has  so  often 
made  herself  drunk  with  the  blood  of  the  saints,  and  within 
her  borders,  here  and  there,  recruits  are  enlisted  under  the 
banner  of  the  Lord,  she  again  shows  herself  ready  to  do  her 
horrid  deeds  of  wickedness,  and  the  poor  friendless  Portu- 
guese are  driven  from  their  burning,  wasted  cottages,  and  a 
man  of  God  is  locked  up  in  the  dungeons  of  the  Inqui- 
sition for  circulating  the  Bible.  The  day  may  come  when 
even  here  Satan  will  betake  himself  to  these  old  methods 
of  assault,  and  when  either  you  or  your  children  may  be 
called  to  testify  the  sincerity  of  your  devotion  by  the  death 
of  the  martyr. 

But  even  if  such  evil  days  as  these  come  not  to  try  the 
sincerity  of  your  faith,  there  may  be  other  and  lesser,  but 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT.         57 


still  formidable  trials  of  the  same  general  nature.  At  the 
outset  of  your  espousals  to  Christ  you  may  encounter  op- 
position from  those  of  your  own  household.  A  husband  or 
a  father  unregenerate,  may  not  wish  to  see  you  forsaking 
them  for  the  Saviour.  Hating  true  piety,  they  may  scorn 
to  have  it  within  their  dwellings.  Bitter  words  of  con- 
tempt and  rebuke  may  fall  upon  your  faltering  spirit,  and 
in  coming  out  to  join  the  soldiers  of  the  cross,  you  may  be 
obliged  to  count  the  cost  by  taking  into  the  estimate  the 
sacrifice  of  cherished  friendships  and  dearest  earthly  ties. 
Rare  are  such  trials  now,  but  they  are  not  unknown;  and 
to  all  who  meet  them,  though  they  may  read  with  sweet 
and  sacred  joy,  "  blessed  are  they  that  are  persecuted  for 
righteousness'  sake,"  yet  to  some  extent  such  must  be 
*'evil  days." 

You  have  just  been  told  of  evil  days  such  as  you  may  not 
have  seen :  let  us  now  look  at  others,  of  which  you  may 
have  already  seen  something,  and  may  yet  know  more — I 
mean  the  evil  days  of  affliction.  To  call  the  seasons  when 
God  lays  his  chastening  hand  upon  us  evil  days,  as  we  are 
well  aware,  may  seem  almost  an  aspersion  of  the  benign 
and  merciful  aspect  in  which  the  gospel  presents  such  pro- 
vidences. Still,  whatever  of  mercy  may  attend  them,  and 
however  peaceful  their  ultimate  fruits,  they  are  at  the  time 


58        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


sore  trials  to  flesh  and  blood.  We  have  divine  authority 
for  saying,  that  "  for  the  present  they  are  not  joyous,  but 
grievous  ;"  and  we  know  that  but  for  our  partnership  with 
Satan  and  sin  such  sorrows  never  w^ould  have  been  ours. 
They  are  the  remnants  of  the  curse  which  a  kind  and  Hea- 
venly Father  in  the  end  transforms  to  blessings,  but  which 
in  themselves  bear  about  them  the  bitterness  of  the  curse 
still. 

Job  was  an  eminent  illustration  of  what  a  saint  should 
be — so  full  of  faith,  love  and  works  of  charity,  that  even 
the  great  adversary  seemed  to  have  despaired  of  making  an 
impression  on  him,  and  declared  that  "God  had  set  an 
hedge  about  him,  and  about  his  house,  and  about  all  that 
he  had  on  every  side."  Yet  God  gave  Satan  leave  to 
exhaust  his  wiles  upon  this  faithful  servant,  sweeping  away 
at  once  his  earthly  riches  and  his  household  treasures, — 
leaving  him  poor,  childless,  dishonoured,  and  smitten  down 
by  painful  bodily  ills,  until  he  seemed  to  have  drained  the 
last  dregs  of  the  bitter  cup  of  affliction.  How  far  Satan 
still  has  power  over  the  fountains  of  human  trouble,  to  open 
them  at  his  pleasure,  even  for  the  children  of  the  kingdom, 
is  not  for  us  to  know ;  but  certain  it  is  that,  sooner  or  later, 
all  God's  people  do  suffer  either  a  part  or  all  the  ills  which 
troubled  Job,  and  that  such  trials  occasion  sore  temptations 


THE     EVIL    DAY    OF    THE    CONFLICT.        59 


to  the  sins  of  discontent  and  rebellion,  and  thus  become 
accessary,  to  some  extent,  to  the  designs  of  the  great 
tempter.  Have  you  not  tasted  for  yourself  the  bitterness 
of  affliction,  and  when  taking  down  the  draught  felt  the 
uprisings  of  your  heart  against  the  hand  of  that  Providence 
by  whom  it  was  prepared,  and  wrestled  hard  in  endeavour- 
ing to  quiet  these  inward  murmurings  ?  Was  there  no  dis- 
position to  think  hard  of  God,  and  say,  "Why  hast  thou  thus 
afflicted  me?" and  to  question  his  right  to  tear  away  your 
loved  ones? 

You  once  had  an  abundance  of  this  world's  goods,  per- 
haps, and  they  are  now  all  gone.  You  had  a  home  you 
could  call  your  own,  a  well-spread  board,  and  no  careful- 
ness for  the  wants  of  the  morrow,  and  not  only  plenty  but 
profusion.  But  things  have  changed,  and  the  home  of  your 
own,  and  the  well-spread  table,  and  the  plenty,  are  all  gone, 
and  poverty,  anxiety  for  the  morrow,  and  it  may  be  actual 
want,  have  come.  Or  in  your  household  was  a  little  prattler, 
the  sweetest,  brightest  star  in  all  that  quiet  firmament,  but 
that  sweet,  bright  star  has  passed  away  from  those  skies  for 
ever.  Or  the  husband  to  whom  you  gave  your  early  love, 
and  on  whom  you  leaned  as  your  earthly  helper  from  your 
gay  bridal  hour  through  many  a  day  of  sunshine  and  of  sad- 
ness, is  here  for  you  to  lean  upon  no  more,  and  you  have 


60      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


been  left  a  lonely  widow ;  or  the  sparkling  eye,  crimson 
cheek,  full  muscle,  firm  step,  and  cheerful  spirit,  have 
departed,  and  in  their  place  have  come  paleness,  weakness, 
pains,  and  sadness  of  heart.  True,  afflicted  one,  there  are  con- 
solations for  you.  The  balm  of  Gilead  can  ultimately  heal 
all  these  wounds ;  but  after  all  you  are  a  poor  weak  worm, — 
you  are  human  nature,  and  still  have  its  infirmities ;  and 
when  with  the  faintings  of  the  heart,  and  the  sufferings  of 
the  flesh,  come  also  the  strong  struggles  to  keep  down  the 
murmuring  rebellious  spirit,  how  can  you  but  feel,  that 
whatever  they  may  work  out  hereafter,  for  the  present  such 
must  be  evil  days  ? 

Last  of  all,  may  we  not  regard  the  day  of  death  as  in 
some  aspects  an  evil  day  ?  Be  not  hasty,  dear  reader,  to 
dispute  this  intimation.  Well  do  we  know,  as  will  be 
shown  elsewhere,  how  this  last  enemy  can  be  conquered 
by  the  soldiers  of  salvation.  We  are  looking  now  at  death  in 
its  physical  relations,  and  in  those  very  features  which  render 
a  power  and  grace  divine  indispensable  in  order  to  victory. 
No  soldier  of  Christ  will  fail  to  come  off  conqueror  in  the 
struggle  with  this  last  mortal  foe,  but  death  will  never- 
theless show  himself  to  be  still  at  heart  a  foe.  Faith  may 
enable  us  to  almost  forget  all  this  side  of  heaven,  and  thus 
disregard  the  approach  of  the  noiseless  spirit  of  the  scythe 


THE    EVIL    DAY    OF     THE     CONFLICT.        61 

and  glass,  and  so  much  long  for  the  sweet  fields  beyond 
the  flood  as  to  welcome  him  as  a  messenger  of  joyful 
release ;  but  still  how  often  does  frail  human  nature  think 
with  timid  dread  of  that  last  trying  hour.  How  often  does 
even  the  eminent  saint  suffer  the  passing  fear,  lest  when  the 
conflict  comes  it  may  be  too  much  for  him.  How  does  he 
heave  the  sigh  of  sadness  when  he  remembers  that  he 
passes  through  death  as  a  sharer  of  the  curse — "Dust 
thou  art,  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return."  How  often  do 
even  the  children  of  the  kingdom  march  along  with  droop- 
ing head  and  downcast  spirit,  all  their  lifetime  "  in  bond- 
age through  fear  of  death."  Think  you  not  to  such,  then, 
death  must  also  seem  an  evil  day  ? 

6 


62  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE     GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH. 

"  Stand, therefore,having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth." 

In  view  of  the  conflicts  and  dangers  which  await  the 
Christian  soklier,  he  is  provided  with  a  panoply,  or  com- 
plete suit  of  armour.  Like  the  men  of  war  who  entered 
the  battle-field  clad  in  mail,  so  is  he  sent  forth  with  helmet, 
breastplate,  shield,  sandals,  girdle,  and  sword,  that  he 
may  "  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,"  "  stand  in  the  evil 
day,"  and  at  last  come  off  more  than  conqueror. 

The  various  parts  of  the  panoply  specified  by  the  apostle 
are  those  of  the  Grecian  armour,  with  which,  of  course,  the 
Ephesians  were  familiar,  and  to  whose  minds  this  martial 
imagery  must  have  been  striking  and  instructive.  Let  us 
follow  the  order  of  the  apostle,  and  in  examining  the 
armour  of  the  Christian  soldier,  fix  our  attention  first  on 
The  Girdle  of  Truth. 


THE     GIRDLE     OF     TRUTH.  63 


Among  the  orientals,  as  you  are  aware,  the  girdle  is  an 
almost  universal  article  of  dress  in  both  civil  and  military- 
life.  In  the  former  case  it  is  not  only  ornamental,  but 
serves  to  confine  the  loose  and  flowing  vesture  of  the  East; 
whilst  in  the  latter  it  performs  the  additional  office  of  sup- 
porting and  bracing  the  body,  better  to  endure  toil  and 
fatigue — of  binding  together  the  various  parts  of  the  armour, 
and  also  furnishing  a  receptacle  for  weapons.  Hence  the 
girdle  is  not  only  an  important  part  of  the  panoply,  but  to 
some  extent  indispensable  to  the  efficiency  of  the  whole. 

These  ancient  girdles  when  chiefly  ornamental  were  of 
rich  and  costly  cloths,  and  when  used  for  military  purposes 
were  of  thick  leather ;  but  that  with  which  you  are  called 
to  be  girded  as  a  Christian  soldier,  is  of  a  material  far 
more  enduring  and  becoming  than  these ;  it  is  formed  of 
truth  itself.  As  "righteousness  was  to  be  the  girdle  of 
Christ's  loins,  and  faithfulness  the  girdle  of  his  reins,"  so 
truth  is  to  be  the  girdle  of  his  followers. 

The  term  truth  here,  is  not  intended,  as  might  be  sup- 
posed, to  designate  the  general  system  of  doctrine  embraced 
in  the  word  of  God, — this,  as  you  will  see,  being  included 
under  other  parts  of  the  panoply.  You  are  here  to  under- 
stand truth  as  meaning  sincerity.  The  soldier  of  the  cross 
is  to  be  free  from  guile,  hypocrisy,  and  all  deception ;  to  be 


64      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


frank,  single-hearted,  sincere ;  and  this  spirit  must  so 
pervade  your  whole  character  that  you  may  be  said  to  be 
encircled  by  it, — to  wear  a  "  girdle  of  truth." 

Truth  is  absolutely  indispensable  to  any  proper  enlisting 
in  the  cause  of  Christ.  A  treacherous  spirit  cannot  for  one 
moment  be  tolerated  in  the  armies  of  salvation. 

Not  a  few,  indeed,  from  the  earliest  ages  have  ostensibly 
enlisted  in  the  Christian  warfare,  been  registered  on  its 
rolls,  worn  its  outward  vestments,  and  been  mustered  under 
its  banners,  who  at  heart  have  had  no  sympathy  in  the 
great  objects  of  its  battles. 

Some  such  have  been  brought  hither  by  personal  and 
sinister  ends,  and  only  desire  the  success  of  the  Christian 
hosts  so  far  as  this  will  tend  to  securing  their  selfish  pur- 
poses. They  had  suffered,  perhaps,  the  ruin  of  reputation ; 
by  their  misdeeds  they  had  lost  caste  in  society ;  they  had 
reduced  themselves  to  a  condition  both  uncomfortable  and 
unprofitable ;  and  as  those  who  are  enrolled  as  the  friends 
of  Christ  are  usually  looked  upon  as  upright  and  sincere, 
they  take  upon  themselves  the  Christian  profession,  as 
apparently  the  most  easy  and  effectual  method  of  wiping 
from  their  characters  infamy  and  disgrace.  Few  can  be 
found,  you  may  declare,  amongst  the  professed  soldiers  of 
Christ,  who  are  so  base, — but  are  there  none  ? 


T  n  E     G  I II  D  L  E     0  F     T  R  U  T  II .  65 


Others,  with  a  spirit  also  despicable,  may  professedly 
espouse  this  blessed  cause  for  the  sake  of  securing  the 
favour  and  patronage  of  their  associates  in  the  church. 
Believing  that  brethren  in  the  same  cause  will  prefer  to 
patronize  each  other,  they  hope  by  this  means  to  come  in 
for  the  world's  gain  which  may  thus  be  gotten.  Of  the 
same  general  class  are  they  with  those  w^ho  followed  the 
Master  when  on  earth  for  the  sake  of  the  "  loaves  and 
fishes  ;"  who,  reversing  the  truth  that  "godliness  is  gain," 
endeavour  to  make  gain  the  sum  and  substance  of  their 
godliness.  Hence  their  show  of  piety  increases  with  the 
advance  of  their  worldly  business  from  the  patronage  of 
the  church  ;  and  hence,  when  the  church  withholds  its  lucra- 
tive favour  and  bestows  it  elsewhere,  they  complain  of 
neglect,  seem  disheartened,  and  perhaps  betake  themselves 
to  the  world  ostensibly  as  they  always  have  done  in  reality. 
All  such  are  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing ;  they  have  prosti- 
tuted the  Christian  profession ;  they  have  come  profanely 
to  the  Lord's  table ;  they  are  w^orshippers  of  Mammon  and 
not  of  God,  and  have  brought  their  money-tables  into  his 
sacred  temple ;  they  are  traitors  in  the  camp,  and  wear 
about  them  the  girdle  of  hypocrisy.  Do  you  say  there 
must  be  few  such  in  the  hosts  of  the  army  militant  ?     Are 

there  not  some  ? 

6* 


66  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


You  will  also  admit  that  there  must  be  the  same  absence 
of  sincerity,  where,  although  the  truth  is  ostensibly  received, 
it  is  yet  so  combined  and  covered  over  with  error  as  to  be 
dishonoured  and  almost  totally  shut   out   of  sight.      Are 
there  not  many  called  by  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  professing 
to  be  zealously  enlisted  in  his  cause,  who  are  still  giving 
that   honour  to   creatures  which   belongs    to   him  alone  ? 
Have  they  not  exalted  to  divine  eminence  creature  inter- 
cessors ?     Have  they  not  given  to  angels,  departed  saints, 
and  living  men,  the  homage  which  belongs  exclusively  to 
the  Son  of  God  ?     Are  they  not  so  mantled  in  error  that 
the  truth  is  shut  out  from  their  minds  ?     Such  men  have 
placed  their  faith  in  ceremonies,  sacraments,  and  traditions ; 
they  have  denied  to  the  true  followers  of  the  Lamb  any 
part  or  lot  with  his  people, — have  cast  out  their  name  as 
evil,  and  exhausted  both  invective  and  earthly  power  in 
wearing  out  the  saints  of  the  Most  High.     Such  men  may, 
indeed,  belong  professedly  to    the    army   of  the  militant 
church,    and    call   themselves    by   its    leader's  name,    and 
assume  to  be  the  only  true  and  faithful  soldiery;  but  war- 
ring as  they  do  against  the  soldiers,  the  Master,  and  the 
common  glorious  cause,  what  are  they  but  enemies  in  dis- 
guise ? — they  wear  not  the  girdle  of  truth. 

May  I  not  further  designate  as  belonging  to  the  same 


THE     GIRDLE    OF     TRUTH.  67 


general  class  those  who,  although  numbered  in  the  ranks  of 
the  visible  church,  are  yet  devoting  their  energies  and  affec- 
tions to  the  inordinate  pursuit  of  this  present  world?  Not 
a  few  such  are  there,  probably,  even  in  the  most  evangeli- 
cal branches  of  Zion.  They  may  be  quite  reputable  in  their 
church-standing,  for  inasmuch  as  the  love  of  the  world  may 
exist  in  entire  consistency  with  a  formal  profession,  the  error 
here  involved  is  more  subtle,  more  difficult  of  detection, 
more  prevalent,  and  more  dangerous  than  almost  any  other. 

How  often  do  even  the  professed  followers  of  Christ 
seem  to  forget  that  his  claims  have  any  connection  what- 
ever with  their  worldly  employments.  How  little  is  it 
remembered,  that  though  worldly  occupations  may  be  in 
themselves  lawful,  and  their  diligent  pursuit  commendable, 
yet  to  set  the  heart  upon  them,  and  devote  the  supreme 
energies  of  life  to  them,  certainly  prostitutes  that  whicli 
might  have  been  for  good  to  what  is  lamentably  evil, 
excludes  God  from  his  rightful  supremacy,  and  introduces 
even  into  the  church  a  race  of  idolaters. 

Where  the  treasure  is, there  will  the  heart  be  also  ;  and 
where  the  treasure  and  the  heart  are  may  usually  be  dis- 
cerned by  the  general  tenor  of  the  life,  for  "  by  their  fruits 
ye  shall  know  them."  The  prevalence  of  a  supreme  love 
of  the  world  will  be  denoted  by  the  habitual  preference  for 


68      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


the  claims  of  the  world  above  those  of  spiritual  religion, 
where  the  two  come  in  conflict.  The  worldly  professor 
finds  more  delight  in  his  counting-house  than  in  the  sanc- 
tuary ;  he  prefers  poring  over  his  schemes  of  gain  to 
mingling  with  the  people  of  God  in  exercises  of  devotion  ; 
his  day-book  w^ill  be  more  entertaining,  if  in  the  midst  of 
prosperity,  than  his  Bible  ;  he  wrestles  more  to  acquire  new- 
patrons  in  his  business  than  for  the  favour  of  God  in  his 
closet,  and  his  heart  is  more  elated  by  the  success  of  an 
investment  than  by  the  tidings  of  a  soul's  conversion,  or 
of  the  general  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  a  revival. 

How  many  among  the  professed  followers  of  Christ  answer 
to  this  melancholy  picture !  Sometimes,  indeed,  they  may 
say  one  to  another,  "  Come,  I  pray  you,  and  hear  what 
is  the  word  that  cometh  from  the  Lord."  They  may 
come  vmto  God's  house  as  his  people  come,  and  sit  before 
him  as  his  people,  but  they  hear  his  words  and  will  not  do 
them  ;  for  with  their  mouth  they  show  much  love,  but  their 
heart  goeth  after  covetousness.  Their  profession  and  their 
practice  do  not  agree ;  they  are  not  in  reality  what  their 
profession  would  reasonably  lead  men  to  regard  them. 
They  are  worshipping  something  else  than  God ;  they  are 
bound  about  with  the  cincture  of  hypocrisy ;  they  wear 
not  the  girdle  of  truth. 


THE     GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH.  69 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE     GIRDLE    OF     TRUTH. 

"  Having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth." 

Genuine  gospel  sincerity  differs  much  from  what  has  been 
spoken  of  in  the  foregoing  chapter.  It  has  as  its  founda- 
tion a  regenerated  heart.  This,  indeed,  is  indispensable  to 
such  an  engagedness  in  the  service  of  God  as  would  imply 
the  appropriation  of  any  part  of  the  armour  of  the  Chris- 
tian soldiery.  Away  from  the  God  of  truth  there  can  be 
no  evangelical  truthfulness.  The  heart  by  nature  is  in 
bondage  to  him  who  is  "  the  father  of  lies"  and  "  was  a  liar 
from  the  beginning;"  it  is  "deceitful  above  all  things." 
How  can  that  which  is  deceitful  above  all  things  be  capa- 
ble of  spiritual  sincerity  ?  Deceitfulness  and  sincerity  are 
the  opposites,  not  the  companions,  of  each  other.  Hence 
the  heart  must  be  changed  ;  that  which  was  deceitful  must 


70        THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


be  taken  out  of  our  flesh,  and  another  given  us,  so  unlike 
the  first  that  henceforth  we  shall  be  "  new  creatures." 

This  change  of  heart  is  no  superficial  thing.  It  involves 
the  very  elements  of  our  being ;  it  is  called  being  "  born 
again ;"  we  date  another  life  from  its  occurrence ;  it  brings 
about  a  change  of  taste,  a  change  of  purpose,  a  change  in 
the  objects  of  affection,  a  change  of  character,  a  change  in 
the  whole  end  of  our  existence.  So  thorough  and  radical 
is  this  transformation,  that  it  is  spoken  of  as  a  quickening 
from  the  dead ;  "  old  things"  are  said  to  have  "  passed 
away,  and  all  things  to  have  become  new;"  and  so  mighty 
is  the  achievement  when  this  change  is  wrought  in  a  single 
soul, that  even  the  angels  in  heaven  rejoice  over  it. 

No  human  power  can  ever  accomplish  this  change ;  no 
power  of  priesthood  nor  of  ceremonial,  no  outward  refor- 
mation, no  magic  of  ordinances,  ever  regenerated  a  soul ; 
none  but  that  almighty  power  which  made  the  soul  from 
nothing  can  make  it  live  anew  from  the  death  in  trespasses 
and  sins;  for  we  "were  born,"  says  the  apostle,  "not  of 
blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 
but  of  God."  The  eternal  Spirit  is  the  great  artificer  of 
that  new  heart  in  which  alone  can  be  found  the  principles 
of  an  evangelical  sincerity.  By  a  direct  and  mysterious 
moving  on  the  soul,  of  which  we  may  not  know  the  nature, 


THE     GIRDLE    OF     TRUTH.  71 


but  whose  results  are  manifest,  the  okl  depraved  and 
deceitful  nature  is  removed,  and  in  its  stead  implanted 
another,  which,  in  humble  sincerity,  chooses  God  as  its 
portion,  his  Son  as  a  Saviour,  his  will  as  its  law,  his 
service  on  earth  as  its  employment,  and  his  holy  heaven 
on  high  as  its  eternal  home  ;  and  wherever  this  new  nature 
exists,  there  also  the  possessor  of  that  nature  has  put  on 
the  girdle  of  truth. 

Sincerity,  such  as  is  here  implanted,  shows  itself  in  a 
genuine  hatred  of  all  sin.  Sin  was  before  the  portion  of 
the  soul.  In  your  unregenerate  state  the  Scriptures  declare 
you  to  have  been  "  the  servant  of  sin."  So  strong  was  your 
devotion  to  it  that  you  drew  it,  as  it  were,  with  cart-ropes ; 
you  rolled  it  as  a  sweet  morsel  under  your  tongue. 

True,  indeed,  in  some  of  its  more  loathsome  forms  you 
may  not  have  been  an  overt  partaker.  This  your  position 
in  society,  respect  for  good  morals,  fear  of  present  results, 
and  the  restraints  of  early  education,  forbade,  but  in  their 
spirit  there  is  not  one  of  the  commandments  of  the  deca- 
logue under  which  you  have  not  been  arraigned  and  found 
guilty. 

Now,  the  sincere  Christian  soldier  wages  his  warfare 
against  sin  in  his  members  and  sin  in  his  heart.  Remnants 
of  the  old  nature  still  cling  to  him,  but  these  are  not  his 


72  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


joy — they  are  his  grief  and  burden.  His  unruly  imagina- 
tion may  still  go  out  after  the  old  flesh-pots  from  which  he 
partook  in  the  days  of  his  bondage,  but  hard  are  his  wrest- 
lings to  bring  back  that  imagination  and  those  passions,  to 
uproot  and  chasten  those  unholy  desires,  and  bitter  are  his 
sorrows  that  he  succeeds  so  imperfectly.  "Being  freed 
from  sin,"  he  wishes  no  longer  to  be  "  the  servant  thereof." 

Nor  is  he  satisfied  with  superficial  discoveries  of  the  evil 
within.  He  is  honest  with  himself;  he  aims  at  a  rigid 
scrutiny,  a  hunting  out  of  all  the  hidden  things.  Unable 
to  accomplish  these  discoveries  himself,  he  resorts  to 
him  who  knows  the  heart,  and  in  all  humility  and  earnest- 
ness, willing  and  wishing  to  know  the  worst,  cries  out, 
"Search  me,  O  God,  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way 
in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting."  If,  on  this 
divine  investigation,  too,  there  should  be  brought  to  light 
a  sin  dear  as  the  right  eye,  he  will  pluck  it  out  and  cast  it 
from  him,  or  near  as  the  right  hand,  he  will  cut  that  off, 
rather  than  having  two  eyes  or  two  hands  to  be  cast  into  hell 
fire. 

Not  simply  for  the  consequences  in  that  world  of  torment, 
however,  does  he  hate  this  evil  thing,  but  for  its  enmity  to 
God,  and  all  that  is  holy  and  good ;  for  its  intrinsic  and 
essential  loathsomeness,  of  which,  alas!  even  now  he  tastes 


THE     GIRDLE     OF     TRUTH.  73 


the  bitter  fruits.  Here,  reader,  you  have  something 
of  the  sj^irit  of  the  soldier  who  has  put  on  the  girdle  of 
truth. 

Sincere  also  is  the  espousal  of  this  soldier  of  the  great 
Captain  of  Salvation  as  the  Prince  and  Sovereign  of  his 
soul.  No  half-way  devotion  to  such  a  leader  will  suffice 
for  him.  That  same  Spirit  which  raised  him  from  the 
tomb  in  which  the  fall  had  laid  him,  and  made  him  stand 
in  sublime  but  humble  majesty  a  son  of  God,  has  also 
revealed  to  his  vision  the  glories  of  the  anointed  One.  No 
longer  is  God's  well-beloved  to  him  as  a  root  out  of  dry 
ground,  without  form  or  comeliness ;  no  longer  is  the  mystery 
of  redemption  but  at  best  a  theme  for  speculation,  nor  the 
sufferings  on  the  cross  a  mere  pathetic  piece  of  pageantry; 
for  with  all  these  he  has  now  a  practical  acquaintance, 
— an  acquaintance  which  he  trusts  will  evermore  become 
closer  and  dearer.  The  Son  of  God  is  now  the  chief  among 
ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely ;  the  mystery  of  redemp- 
tion is  an  exhaustless  fountain  of  living  waters ;  the  suffer- 
ings on  the  cross,  the  great,  the  touching  transaction  by 
which  the  curse  for  liim  was  borne,  and  the  wrath  all 
turned  away.  The  cross  I  the  cross  !  how  his  spirit  bows 
with  sorrow  and  yet  leaps  with  joy  and  hope  as  he  looks 

upon  the  cross.     That  immaculate  One  who  hangs  upon  it, 

7 


74      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


the  heir  of  heaven,  the  partaker  of  the  Godhead,  the  holy, 
harmless,  undefiled,  pourmg  out  his  blood,  breathing  out  in 
agony  his  life,  and  all  for  such  a  worm !  Ah  I  he  is  con- 
quered now ;  the  iron  will  which  the  thunders  of  the  law 
could  not  break,  the  melting  weapons  of  the  cross,  by  the 
eternal  Spirit,  have  subdued,  and  lowly  in  the  dust  beneath 
that  cross  the  rebel  sits,  a  rebel  now  no  more.  As  the 
Roman  soldier  with  his  finger  dipped  in  blood  signed 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  his  enlistment,  and  thus  took  the 
sacrament  of  the  army  he  entered,  so  this  conquered  one, 
taken  captive  from  the  pov/ers  of  sin  and  Satan,  dips  his 
finger  in  the  blood  of  Calvary,  receives  the  bread  and  wine, 
which  set  forth  the  great  transaction  on  the  cross,  and 
incorporates  it  with  his  very  life's  blood,  and  thus  takes 
the  sacramental  oath  evermore  to  be  a  soldier  of  this 
smitten  Saviour.  Hearty  is  his  espousal,  sincere  his  devo- 
tion :  he  has  put  on  truth  for  his  girdle. 

So  much  is  sincerity  the  girdle  of  this  soldier,  so 
honest  and  whole-hearted  is  his  devotion  to  his  new  Master, 
that  there  is  not  a  word  from  this  Master's  lips  but  is  dear 
to  the  servant's  heart.  Whether  that  word  be  spoken 
through  patriarchs,  prophets,  or  apostles,  or  directly  by 
the  mouth  of  him  of  whom  patriarchs  and  prophets  spake, 
and  from  whom  apostles  learned  ;  whether  by  the  ministry 


THE    GIRDLE     OF    TRUTH.  75 


of  men  commissioned  to  bear  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to 
all  people ;  whether  by  the  mute  eloquence  of  the  broken 
body  or  the  shed  blood,  or  whether  by  the  still  small  voice 
of  the  Spirit  gently  breathing  within, — however  these  teach- 
ings may  come,  they  are  to  him  words  of  life ;  he  recognises 
in  them  the  voice  of  him  who  spake  as  never  man  spake,  and 
trembling,  yet  trusting  that  he  may  know  more  of  those 
hidden  things  whose  knowledge  thus  far  has  proved  such 
a  treasure,  he  sits  him  down  as  a  docile  child  to  learn, 
whilst  he  says,  "  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth." 
Is  not  this  man,  then,  in  earnest  ?  is  he  not  sincere  ?  has  he 
not  put  on  truth  for  his  girdle  ? 

So  sincere  is  the  devotion  of  the  genuine  soldier  of  the 
cross  to  his  glorious  leader,  that  he  truly  loves  all  who  in 
any  degree  bear  the  image  of  his  Lord  and  Master,  Loving 
the  great  original  so  well,  he  can  but  love  all  who  bear 
his  impress  and  breathe  his  Spirit.  Imperfections  and 
numerous  frailties  his  fellow-soldiers  may  have,  but  too 
sadly  has  he  felt  his  own  infirmities  and  errors  to  condemn 
others  for  the  want  of  entire  symmetry  of  Christian  charac- 
ter. As  he  longs  for  more  of  his  Master's  image  and 
Spirit  for  himself,  so  also  he  would  rejoice  to  see  more  of 
these  blessed  lineaments  in  all  who  name  the  name  of  Jesus ; 
but  if,   amidst  numerous  imperfections,  he  is  able  still  to 


76      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


discern  a  heart  that  would  be  conformed,  and  a  life  that 
would  be  devoted,  to  the  pattern  of  the  great  original  whom 
he  adores,  it  is  enough  ;  in  that  bosom  beats  a  heart  in 
unison  with  his  own,  and  in  that  life  there  are  strugglings 
for  the  same  great  end  for  which  he  strives  himself.  This 
soldier  and  himself  are  enlisted  under  the  same  banner, 
exposed  to  similar  hardships  and  dangers,  warring  against 
the  same  enemies,  striving  after  the  same  achievements, 
and  marching  under  the  command  of  the  same  great  leader 
to  the  same  final,  glorious  victory.  Called  by  the  name 
of  what  distinctive  tribe  he  may  be,  moving  under  what 
subordinate  banner  he  may,  encamping  in  what  division  of 
the  army  he  may,  he  belongs  to  Israel's  great  militant  hosts, 
to  the  one  army  "  of  the  living  God,"  and  together  they  are 
to  cross  the  Jordan,  and  together  share  the  land  of  Canaan. 
He  will  recognise  every  such  soldier  as  joined  with  him  in 
a  common  brotherhood,  and  for  the  sake  of  him  whom  they 
both  delight  to  serve  and  honour  will  embrace  him  in  the 
bonds  of  a  holy,  spiritual  affection.  Sincerity  marks  the 
character  of  this  friend  of  the  Master  here  also  as  well  as 
elsewhere;  and  in  following  out  its  lineaments  do  we  not 
still  discern  a  devotion  to  truth,  a  heaven-wrought  sincerity, 
encircling  him  about  like  a  girdle  ? 

And  according  to  the  same  pure  and  lofty  principles,  are 


THE    GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH.  77 


regulated  his  common  associations  in  society ;  the  girdle 
reaches  around  the  entire  soldier,  and  affects  his  conduct  in 
comparatively  the  lesser  transactions  of  life.  That  man 
must  have  lived  to  little  purpose  who  has  attained  to 
maturity,  and  has  not  observed  how  much  of  hollow- 
heartedness  and  insincerity  pervades  the  general  associa- 
tions and  customs  of  society.  In  the  early  dawn  of  man- 
hood, and  before  experience  had  come  in  to  imj)art  a  true 
knowledge  of  mankind,  you  may,  indeed,  have  regarded 
the  professions  of  kindness  and  affection,  and  readiness  to 
serve  you,  so  profusely  poured  from  human  lips,  as  always 
the  real  language  of  the  heart ;  but  further  acquaintance 
with  fallen,  perverse  humanity  has  perhaps  long  since 
shown  you  how  much  of  self-seeking  or  mere  empty  com- 
pliment there  was  in  all  this,  and  how  little  fulfilment 
of  such  professions  attended  the  circumstances  in  which 
your  poor  heart  needed  most  of  the  cordial  of  real  friend- 
ship. So  melancholy,  indeed,  may  have  been  the  disco- 
veries of  the  hollow-heartedness,  selfishness,  and  hypocrisy 
of  mankind  which  have  continued  to  crowd  upon  you  in  the 
hard  journey  of  life,  that  you  have  been  driven  almost  to 
the  extreme  of  incredulity  and  disgust,  and  been  ready 
with  David  to  say  in  your  haste,  "  All  men  are  liars." 
Now,  as  regards  a  portion  of  the  world,  such  impres- 


7* 


78         THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


sions  may  be  but  too  painfully  true ;  but  before  embracing 
all  mankind  in  this  sweeping  denunciation,  pause  and  seek 
yet  further,  and  you  will  find  some  sweet  exceptions  to  the 
general  depravity,  some  oases  in  this  wide  waste  of  false 
pretensions,  some  who  feel  in  their  hearts  what  their  lips 
express,  who,  although  they  may  be  less  profuse  in  proffers 
of  kindness,  are  yet  ready  as  far  as  in  them  lies  to  fulfil 
what  they  have  led  you  to  expect. 

He  who  is  girdled  with  sincerity,  has  eschewed  guile, 
scorned  deceit,  flattery,  and  empty  words  which  only  please 
the  ear,  and  bears  with  him  through  the  whole  range  of 
society  the  aspect  of  an  honest  man.  He  fawns  not  for 
favour  on  the  rich,  great,  and  powerful  in  the  world ;  he  is 
not  amongst  those  who,  in  order  to  be  everywhere  well 
spoken  of,  are  willing  in  the  most  exceptionable  sense  to 
"  be  all  things  to  all  men," — w^ho  are  ready  without  scruple 
to  assent  to  propositions  however  opposite,  to  agree  with 
those  whose  sentiments  are  directly  at  variance,  declaring 
both  to  be  right,  and  wishing  both  success  when  success  to 
the  one  must  assuredly  be  defeat  to  the  other.  He  will  not, 
in  order  to  be  popular,  say  pleasant  things  to  all,  garnishing 
even  their  misdeeds  with  flattery.  Nor  is  he  one  of  those 
who  profess  to  have  no  great  preference  for  any  one 
system  of  religious  truth,  and  who  can  say  to  men  of  every 


THE     GIRDLE     OF     T  R  U  T  II .  79 

form  of  faith,  thut  their  creed  expresses  precisely  the  senti- 
ments of  his  own  heart. 

All  such  time-serving  the  sincere  man  utterly  eschews ; 
in  his  estimation  it  involves  falsehood  as  an  essential 
element ;  and  rather  would  he  walk  through  life  alone  and  in 
ohscurity,  forfeiting  the  good  opinion  of  the  multitude,  and 
having  his  name  and  principles  cast  out  as  evil,  than  pur- 
chase favour  and  success  at  the  sacrifice  of  truth. 

What  is  the  path  of  duty?  what  is  truly  for  the  good  of 
my  race  and  the  glory  of  God?  who  are  those  really  worthy 
of  estimation?  what  are  those  doctrines  which  the  Scriptures 
reveal,  and  what  that  conduct  which  will  pass  the  scrutiny 
of  the  final  Judge  ? — these  are  the  questions  which  the  faith- 
ful soldier  asks  himself,  and  according  to  which  his  princi- 
ples, his  conversation,  his  actions,  his  whole  life  are  framed, 
and  to  the  last  maintained.  Say  what  you  will  of  such  an 
one,  cast  out  his  name  as  evil  if  you  will,  but  one  thing  you 
may  not  deny,  that  he  is  at  least  of  proven  sincerity, — that 
he  wears  about  him  a  devotion  to  truth,  a  heaven-wrought 
sincerity,  for  his  girdle. 


80  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE     GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH. 

"  Having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth." 

Sincerity  does  not  exempt  its  possessor  from  the  shafts 
of  calumny  and  malice.  These  are  a  part  of  the  evils 
inseparable  from  his  warfare,  and  his  sincerity  is  oftentimes 
the  means  of  provoking  assaults,  and  apparently  enhancing 
his  difficulties.  In  this  evil  world  error  meets  a  much 
readier  sanction  than  truth,  and  he  who  comes  out  from  the 
multitude  and  leads  the  life  of  an  humble  conscientious 
follower  of  Christ,  will  by  no  means  escape  the  bitterness 
and  hostility  excited  amongst  wicked  men  by  the  exhibition 
of  superior  virtue.  The  world  cannot  bear  the  rebuke 
which  a  spiritual  life  casts  upon  its  false  principles  and 
conduct ;  and  hence  the  most  fierce  and  bloody  persecutions 
it  has  ever  waged,  have  been  those  against  what  was 
most  virtuous   and   divine.      The   Son   of  God  was   the 


THE     GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH.  81 


embodiment  of  truth  itself,  and  he  was  slain  ;  and  his  cause, 
which  has  had  for  its  object  the  propagation  of  the  same 
great  element  of  good,  has  always  been  most  fiercely- 
assailed  when  most  faithfully  and  successfully  accomplishing 
its  glorious  work. 

But  although  the  girdle  of  truth  will  not  act  as  a  charmed 
circle  to  shut  out  the  assaults  of  wickedness,  it  does  furnish 
a  means  of  protection  and  of  ultimate  triumph  over  all 
such  evils. 

This  end  is  accomplished,  to  some  degree,  by  imparting 
firmness  and  stability  to  the  character  of  the  Christian  sol- 
dier. Just  as  the  mailed  warrior  was  braced  up  and  sup- 
ported by  his  girdle,  so  does  the  soldier  of  the  cross  derive 
firmness  and  stability  from  his  spiritual  cincture.  After  dili- 
gent investigation  and  reflection,  he  has  settled  in  his  mind 
deep  and  wide  principles  of  conduct.  These  constitute  the 
basis  of  his  character,  and  being  in  their  nature  unchange- 
able, must  impart  to  his  life  uniformity  and  consistency. 

He  who  acts  without  principle  must  be  unstable  in  all  his 
•  ways.  He  is  blown  about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine ;  he 
is  the  creature  of  impulse,  and  yields  to  its  power,  from 
whatever  quarter  comes  the  impelling  force ;  he  is  seeking 
selfish  ends,  and  therefore  changes  and  modifies  both  his 
sentiments  and  conduct  to  fall  in  with  the  popular  current. 


82  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


Had  he  lived  when  the  Son  of  God  was  upon  earth,  he 
would  have  been  equally  ready  to  cry  "  Hosanna  to  the  son 
of  David,"  or  "  Crucify  him,  crucify  him,"  as  the  star  of 
the  Redeemer  seemed  in  the  ascendant  or  under  an  eclipse ; 
or  had  his  lot  been  cast  in  those  days  when  in  England 
Popery  and  Protestantism  had  alternately  the  power  and 
the  purse,  or  when  the  Roundheads  and  the  advocates  of 
kingly  and  high  ecclesiastical  pretensions  w^ere  exchanging 
places,  he  would,  like  many  of  those  times,  with  equal 
thankfulness  have  received  the  mitre,  if  tendered  to  him, 
from  Popish  or  from  Protestant  hands,  or  would  have 
piously  sung  psalms  with  Cromwell,  or  fought  in  the  armies 
which  were  raised  to  crush  the  "  usurper."  Such  a  man  is 
not  sincere.  But  one  principle  has  he  adhered  to  in  all 
these  phases  of  character,  and  that  has  been,  whatever  fluc- 
tuations occurred,  always  to  keep  on  that  side  in  whose 
hands  were  the  reins  of  power,  always  to  sit  at  that  table  on 
which  was  spread  out  the  largest  repast  of  loaves  and  fishes. 
Now  need  I  assure  you  that  with  him  who  wears  the 
girdle  of  truth  such  self-seeking  and  instability  is  utterly 
impracticable.  Those  principles  of  rectitude  which  lie 
deep  in  his  heart  will  impel  him  to  choose  and  pursue  the 
right,  whether  it  be  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  faring 
sumptuously  every  day,  or  whether  it  appear  in  tattered 


THE    GIRDLE    OF    TRUTH.  83 


rags ;  whether  it  be  frowned  or  fawned  upon ;  whether 
the  multitude  are  in  its  triumphant  train,  or  whether  in  the 
wide  world  it  have  no  other  advocate  than  himself.  The 
apostles — dragged  from  the  gloomy  prison,  when  life  or 
death  seemed  hanging  on  the  words  they  might  utter — stood 
up  as  fearless  for  their  Master  and  his  cause  as  if  they  had 
been  on  the  judgment-seat  and  their  lofty  auditors  the 
prisoners  at  the  bar.  Paul,  single-handed  and  alone, 
preached  Christ  and  him  crucified  with  equal  ardour,  faith- 
fulness, and  fearlessness,  when  speaking  to  the  haughty 
sages  who  looked  upon  the  cross  as  a  stumbling-block  and 
foolishness,  as  when  writing  his  letters  to  the  saints  which 
were  at  Corinth,  Ephesus,  or  Rome.  These  devoted 
men  were  sincere  in  their  espousals  of  their  Lord ;  they 
believed  in  the  truths  taught  them  by  their  crucified  and 
ascended  Redeemer  as  fully  as  they  credited  the  existence 
of  a  God  or  their  own,  and  in  all  fidelity  poured  out  the 
fervent  breathings  of  their  honest  hearts,  conferring  not 
with  flesh  and  blood. 

The  question  as  to  the  favour  his  ways  of  truthfulness 
will  find  among  men  must  not  enter  into  the  considerations 
which  determine  the  conduct  of  the  Christian  soldier.  If 
the  sunshine  of  favour  falls  upon  him  he  will  be  thankful, 
and  under  its  light  tread  cheerfully  his  onward  way ;  but 


84      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


if  his  march  is  shrouded  in  deep  darkness,  and  studded 
thick  with  dangers,  the  thought  of  forsaking  it  is  not  har- 
bored even  for  a  moment.  Like  the  great  steamship  which, 
with  her  bowsprit  pointed  for  the  haven,  pursues  her  ever 
onward  course,  whether  the  sea  be  calm  and  peaceful,  and 
the  breezes  auspicious,  or  whether  struggling  in  the  teeth 
of  the  tempest  and  dashing  through  the  mountain  wave, 
so  alike  amidst  calm  and  tempest  on  that  tumultuous  sea 
where  his  little  bark  is  cast,  this  spiritual  voyager  presses 
ever  onwards  to  that  haven  for  which  he  has  fixed  his 
course  at  the  outset.  Or  to  use  a  figure  more  appropriate 
to  the  imagery  of  the  present  subject,  he  enters  the  battle- 
field with  equal  readiness, whether  the  hosts  arrayed  against 
him  are  apparently  superior  or  inferior  to  those  with  which 
he  is  mustered,  and  fights  with  equal  daring  and  determi- 
nation, whether  for  the  time  the  day  seems  going  against 
him  or  in  his  favour;  thinking  but  of  this,  that  in  this  cause 
he  has  enlisted  for  life,  in  this  battle  there  is  no  discharge 
on  earth,  that  having  put  the  armour  on  he  must  never  lay 
it  off,  that  if  any  man  draw  back  the  Master's  soul  can 
have  no  pleasure  in  him.  He  loves  that  cause,  and  for  his 
heart's  affections  he  will  ever  fight.  Through  all  changes, 
and  in  every  danger,  his  manly  form  is  still  erect,  strength- 
ened and  braced  up  by  the  girdle  of  truth. 


THE    GIRDLE    OF     TRUTH.  85 


\ 


Sincerity  affords  protection,  also,  to  the  Christian  soldier, 
by  removing  from  his  character  many  vulnerable  points. 
Whatever  temporary  popularity  and  success  may  be  gained 
by  the  hypocrite,  there  is  no  one  who,  in  the  end,  lays  him- 
self more  open  to  assault,  no  one  who  suffers  more  in  the 
recoil  of  his  own  weapons,  or  more  fatally  falls,  taken 
captive  in  his  own  toils.  For  a  time  it  may  be  compara- 
tively easy  to  support  an  unreal  character,  to  cover  dis- 
honesty with  the  guise  of  integrity,  indifference  and  dislike, 
with  smiles  and  assurances  of  friendship,  sympathy,  and 
affection,  and  a  wicked  heart  with  the  outward  garb  of 
piety ;  but,  for  the  most  part,  this  can  succeed  only  for  a 
time.  The  insincere  man  can  scarcely  fail  to  attempt  too 
much ;  his  dupes  become  too  numerous,  and  can  too  easily 
compare  their  experience  as  to  the  practical  results  of  these 
professions ;  his  great  profusion  in  proffers  of  kindness  will 
excite  suspicion  that  what  is  ever  so  ready  on  the  lip  may 
not  always  come  from  the  heart ;  and  as  for  his  religious 
pretensions,  the  Omniscient  eye  has  always  seen  through 
the  outward  veil,  and  God  has 

"  Abhorred  the  sacrifice 
Where  not  the  heart  is  found." 

You  will  easily  perceive  what  must  be  the  end  of  this 

course  of  insincerity,  how  it  will  destroy  confidence,  excite 

8 


86      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


distrust,  enfeeble,  disable,  and  eventually  secure  an  utter 
overthrow. 

On  the  other  hand  sincerity  will  inspire  confidence,  and 
the  longer  and  fiercer  the  trials  to  which  it  is  exposed  the 
more  brightly  will  it  shine.  Unvarying  principles  which 
have  survived  the  most  rigid  tests  will  prove  themselves 
genuine  ;  and  in  that  hour  when  even  those  who  have  been 
wont  to  revile  need  the  cordial  of  a  spirit  in  which  there  is 
no  guile,  the  sincere  and  humble  Christian  will  be  appealed 
to,  into  his  ear  will  be  told  the  story  of  grief,  and  from 
his  hand  will  be  sought  the  needful  help.  Those  whose 
condition  requires  a  character  which  may  be  relied  upon, 
will  not  fail  to  resort  to  him  who  has  been  willing  to  pass 
through  all  fires  rather  than  abandon  the  firm  convictions 
of  his  soul,  and  in  the  day  of  adversity  sincerity  will 
triumph,  so  that  even  the  lips  of  its  former  enemies  shall  be 
made  vocal  in  its  praise. 

Witness  an  example  of  the  triumph  of  this  grace  in  the 
persecution  and  exaltation  of  Daniel.  Princes,  governors, 
counsellors,  and  captains  were  marshalled  against  him  to 
drive  him  from  the  worship  of  his  God  ;  on  penalty  of  being 
cast  into  the  den  of  lions  he  must  not  offer  a  petition  to 
the  object  of  his  soul's  adoration.  But  rather  will  this 
faithful  servant  part  with  his  life  than  part  with  the  favour 


THE    GIRDLE     OF    TEUTH.  87 


I 


of  Ills  God ;  rather  will  he  go  into  the  den  of  lions,  and  be 
torn  limb  from  limb,  mangled  and  killed  by  the  beasts 
made  furious  from  hunger,  than  prove  a  treacherous  follower 
of  his  espoused  Master.  Upon  his  knees,  then,  he  kneels 
three  times  a  day,  and  prays  and  gives  thanks  before  his 
God,  as  he  did  aforetime;  and  down  into  the  den  of  wdld 
beasts  is  he  cast,  doubtless  expecting  to  be  devoured ;  but 
the  jaws  of  those  beasts  are  shut,  and  harmless  they  are  ren- 
dered by  the  "  God  of  Daniel,"  so  that  they  do  him  no  hurt, 
and  from  the  jaw^s  of  the  lions  he  is  brought  out  in  safety. 
Now,  think  you  not  this  adherence  to  his  faith  in  Daniel, 
right  in  the  face  of  death,  was  a  most  impressive  tribute  to 
liis  character, — marking  him  in  the  mind  of  Darius  the 
king,  as  a  man  whose  sincerity  in  his  profession  must  be 
unquestionable  ?  Would  not  this  adhesion  to  principle  in 
defiance  of  death,  have  taught  the  monarch  that  in  all  his 
empire  he  could  not  perhaps  find  a  man  more  to  be  trusted  ? 
and  was  it  not  for  this  reason,  as  well  as  because  of  the 
divine  deliverance  w^hich  had  been  vouchsafed,  that  the  king 
put  honour  upon  Daniel, — was  there  not  here  in  the  end 
the  triumph  of  sincerity  ?  So  that  however  dark  and 
gloomy  may  be  the  hour,  however  stern  and  terrible  the 
nature  of  the  conflict,  yet  braced  up  by  the  girdle  of  truth 
the  soldier  of  Christ  may  emerge  safely  from  the  evil  day. 


88  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


And  no  small  support  does  the  soldier  of  the  cross  derive 
from  that  consciousness  of  the  approval  of  his  divine  leader 
which  the  wearing  of  this  girdle  imparts.  He  has  intelli- 
gently, heartily,  sincerely  espoused  the  cause  and  kingdom 
of  the  great  Captain  of  the  militant  hosts.  For  this  he 
has  turned  his  back  upon  the  world's  attractions,  he  has 
crucified  his  flesh  with  the  affections  and  lusts  thereof,  he 
has  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  many  a  day  of  hardship, 
and  fought  in  many  a  battle ; — in  his  innermost  heart  has 
he  for  better  or  worse  thrown  himself  into  this  great 
spiritual  enterprise.  In  this  one  thing  he  has  embarked 
his  mortal  and  his  immortal  all. 

Now,  do  you  tell  me  that  in  that  heart  where  dwells  a 
confidence  so  great  as  this  abandonment  for  one  thing 
would  argue,  there  can  be  doubts  as  to  the  final  issue  in 
the  mind  of  him  who  makes  the  sacrifice  and  consecration  ? 
As  sincerely  as  he  credits  the  fact  that  there  is  a  God,  so 
truly  does  his  heart  repose  in  this  full  persuasion,  that 
whatever  may  be  the  threatening  danger,  or  however  fierce 
the  struggle,  he  will  yet  have  reason  to  rejoice, — that 
Zion's  monarch  has  neither  forgotten  his  cause  nor  his 
people,  but  that  as  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jeru- 
salem, so  is  the  Lord  round  about  them  that  fear  him, — 
that  though  in  a  little  wrath  God  may  have  hid  his  face 


THE     GIRDLE    OF     TRUTH.  89 


for  a  moment,  yet  with  everlasting  kindness  will  he  have 
mercy. 

This  very  conviction  of  the  secured  and  unalterable 
favour  of  God  upon  ourselves  and  the  ways  we  tread,  is 
itself  a  whole  tower  of  streno-th  to  the  soul.  This  thought 
— that  God  is  for  him,  inspires  the  warrior  with  an  undying 
strength  and  courage.  It  breathes  hope  into  his  desponding 
bosom,  quickens  his  languid  footsteps,  cheers  him  when 
the  strokes  fall  thick  about  him,  and  carries  him  forward 
amidst  all  the  conflicts  of  the  evil  day,  firm  and  unshaken, 
pressing  steadily  forward  to  the  last. 

To  my  mind  there  is  not  in  all  uninspired  history,  a 
picture  more  lofty  or  sublime,  than  that  of  Luther  on  his 
way  to  Worms  ; — a  poor,  despised,  excommunicated  monk, 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  Avorld's  united  power  in 
conclave  for  his  ruin,  and  when  friends  are  bemoaning 
themselves  about  him,  and  beseeching  him  not  with  open 
eyes  to  walk  right  into  the  open  jaws  of  death,  saying, 
"  I  will  go  to  Worms,  though  there  be  as  many  devils 
there  as  there  be  tiles  upon  the  houses."  And  to  my 
mind  there  is  not  in  all  the  inspired  pictures  of  apostolic 
valour,  one  more  sublime,  glorious,  and  affecting,  than 
that  of  Paul  on  the  sea-shore  at    Miletus,  with  the  elders 

weeping   round    him,    saying,    "  And    now   behold,    I   go 

8* 


90      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


bound  in  the  Spirit  unto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things 
that  shall  befall  me  there ;  save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  wit- 
nesseth  in  every  city,  saying  that  bonds  and  afflictions 
abide  me.  But  none  of  these  things  move  me,  neither 
count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish 
my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God." 

Sincerely  had  these  men  of  God  espoused  their  Master's 
cause,  and  sincerely  did  they  believe  that  the  Master  would 
not  leave  them  in  their  evil  days  of  adversity  and  trial, 
and,  trusting  the  promised  grace,  they  were  braced  up  for 
conflict  and  for  victory. 

O  reader,  seek  the  grace  divine  to  help  you  also  to 
put  this  girdle  on.  Let  sincerity  attend  your  every 
thought,  word,  and  action  ;  let  it  shine  in  the  social  circle, 
amidst  the  mart  of  business,  and  especially  in  those  spiritual 
employments  w^hich  have  to  do  directly  with  the  God  of 
truth.  Wear  this  girdle,  and  you  will  find  it  a  cincture 
not  only  fulfilling  the  ends  already  brought  to  view,  but  as 
beautiful  as  useful.  It  shall  shine  not  in  the  lustre  of  gold, 
and  gems,  and  precious  stones,  which  perish  in  the  using, 
but  in  the  pure  and  serene  brightness  of  truth  itself,  which, 
from  its  nature,  is  immortal  and  imperishable. 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.   91 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"  Having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness." 

We  are  permitted  to  bring  from  the  armory  of  the  Lord  a 
second  piece  of  the  gospel  panoply,  and  wish  to  point  out 
to  you  its  nature  and  offices,  with  the  hope  that  you  may 
see  its  value,  and  avail  yourself  of  the  privilege  afforded 
of  making  it  your  own. 

This  piece  of  the  armour  is  a  breastplate,  without  which 
a  suit  of  mail  would  be  incomplete  and  essentially  defective. 
Its  office,  as  the  name  imports,  is  to  cover  the  chest  and 
afford  protection  to  the  vital  organs  there. 

The  Grecian  breastplate  was  a  half-corslet,  originally 
made  of  hemp  twisted  into  small  cords  and  closely  woven 
together,  but  in  the  improvements  of  art  was  constructed 
of  iron,  brass,  and  other  metals,  rendered  so  hard  as  abso- 
lutely to  defy  any  of  the  weapons  of  offensive  warfare  then 


92  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


known.  Plutarch  says  "  that  Zoilus  an  artificer,  having 
made  a  present  of  two  iron  brigandines  (breastplates)  to 
Demetrius  Poliorcetes,  for  an  experiment  of  their  hardness, 
caused  an  arrow  to  be  shot  out  of  an  engine  called  cata- 
pulta,  placed  about  twenty-six  paces  off,  which  was  so  far 
from  piercing  the  iron  that  it  scarcely  razed  or  made  the 
least  impression  on  it."  The  metal  was  usually  highly 
polished,  too,  so  as  to  reflect  the  light,  and  thus  dazzle  the 
eyes  and  strike  terror  to  the  heart  of  an  enemy.  Hence  a 
classic  writer,  speaking  of  one  arrayed  in  complete  panoply, 

says,  that 

"  Dressed  ia  his  glittering  breastplate  he  appeared, 
Frightful  with  scales  of  brass." 

You  perceive  how  fitly  such  a  piece  of  armour  illustrates 
the  formidable  and  protective  portion  of  the  panoply  with 
which  the  believer  is  here  arrayed.  Righteousness  is  the 
breastplate  of  the  Christian  soldier,  and  a  sure  defence  is  it 
against  "  the  wiles  of  the  devil." 

There  is  a  righteousness,  indeed,  which  men  often  fabri- 
cate for  themselves,  which  comes  not  from  the  armory  of 
God — which  is  of  spurious  material,  and  affords  no  availing 
defence. 

Of  this  nature  is  that  righteousness  which  men  go  about 
to  establish  for  themselves  by  an  ostensible  obedience  to  the 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  93 


law ;  and  this  indeed  would  avail  were  the  obedience  perfect, 
and  we  still  unfallen  subjects  of  God's  great  empire.  In 
primeval  innocence  our  first  parents  stood  clad  in  a  right- 
eousness of  their  own.  Perfectly  sinless  and  holy,  and  ren- 
dering complete  and  cheerful  obedience  to  every  iota  of 
their  Sovereign's  will,  they  stood  accepted  then,  as  do  un- 
fallen angels  now,  in  their  own  unsullied  righteousness. 
Against  such  there  can  be  no  denunciations  of  wrath,  no 
unanswered  and  unanswerable  claims  which  must  be  satis- 
fied through  another  if  satisfied  at  all. 

But  with  us  there  can  be  no  perfect  obedience.  We  are 
not  sinless,  but  ahvays  sinning ;  we  are  not  able  even  to 
render  a  perfect  obedience  for  the  future,  much  less  to  make 
atonement  for  the  past,  but  are  as  helpless  as  w^e  are  sinful. 
We  have  all  gone  astray ;  we  have  come  short  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God ;  our  carnal  hearts  are  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  they  be, 
for  "  by  the  deeds  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be  justified." 
How  futile  are  the  efforts  of  those  already  under  the  power 
of  the  prince  of  darkness,  to  array  themselves  in  a  vesture 
which  will  protect  them  from  his  assaults,  and  yet  how 
prone  are  men  by  nature  to  seek  protection  under  a  pano- 
ply of  their  own  devising. 

Even  where  there  is  no  light  of  revelation,  do  not  man- 


94  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


kind  give  tokens  of  a  consciousness  of  guilt  and  of  the 
need  of  some  defence?  In  defoult  of  the  panoply  divine 
do  they  not  go  about,  themselves  to  make  atonement  for 
their  sins  ?  Do  they  not  erect  altars  and  offer  upon  them 
human  sacrifices,  burn  incense  before  shrines  of  gold  and 
silver  to  appease  images  also  the  workmanship  of  their  own 
hands,  and  offer  not  only  the  fruit  of  their  bodies,  but 
whole  hecatombs  of  human  beings,  and  at  enormous  price, 
present  their  vain  oblations  ?  But  do  these  sacrifices  secure 
the  favour  of  Heaven  ?  Do  these  rivers  of  human  blood, 
these  groans,  these  mines  of  gold  or  silver,  purchase  release 
from  the  curse  of  God's  holy  law  ?  Do  not  all  of  these 
still  leave  the  helpless  victim  under  the  wrath  divine  and 
the  pollution  of  sin,  open  to  the  successful  assaults  of  the 
devil,  to  be  pierced  by  his  darts,  bound  in  his  fetters,  and 
held  by  him  in  eternal  hopeless  captivity  ? 

But  even  where  the  light  of  revelation  has  been  poured 
down  in  living  floods,  where  the  shades  of  superstition  and 
error  should  have  been  banished,  do  not  men  still  seek  to 
array  themselves  in  a  righteousness  which  is  not  of  God  ? 
Are  not  even  those  ordinances  which  were  designed  to  lead 
us  to  the  divine  armory,  and  enable  us  to  appropriate  the 
panoply,  often  themselves  resorted  to  for  protection,  and  pros- 
tituted into  a  vain  substitute  for  that  which  alone  will  avail? 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  95 


Of  the  vast  multitudes  who  made  up  the  hosts  of  Israel, 
and  were  accustomed  to  assemble  at  the  altars  of  Jerusalem, 
how  few  ever  regarded  the  outpouring  of  the  blood  of 
beasts  as  but  symbolic  of  the  true  and  only  propitiation. 
How  many  placed  their  confidence  in  the  mere  symbols, 
trusting  in  the  typical  sacrifice,  and  hoping  for  favour  by 
virtue  of  the  offering  itself.  So  intent  were  they,  indeed, 
on  thus  completing  their  own  righteousness,  that,  not  satis- 
fied with  an  outward  compliance  with  the  letter  of  the  cere- 
monial, and  magnifying  the  efficacy  of  their  oblations,  they 
added  yet  others  not  prescribed,  and  brought  the  mint,  annis, 
and  cummin,  made  broad  their  phylacteries,  prolonged  their 
prayers,  and  sounded  aloud  their  alms,  until  they  had  at 
least  convinced  themselves  that  they  were  "  not  as  other 


men." 


See  yonder  Pharisee !  He  enters  the  temple  with  no 
consciousness  of  unworthiness ;  he  thinks  not  of  taking  an 
obscure  place ;  he  halts  not  in  the  outer  court,  but  with 
measured  step  and  lofty  mien  advances  far  within  the  sacred 
precincts.  Broad  is  his  phylactery,  erect  his  form  and  bold 
his  forehead  ;  he  is  borne  down  by  no  consciousness  of 
guilt ;  he  seems  to  be  in  need  of  nothing,  whilst  from  his 
opened  lips  are  heard,  "  God,  I  thank  thee  that  I  am  not 
as  other  men  are,  extortioners,  unjust,  adulterers,  or  even 


96  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


as  this  publican."  Yes !  this  self-sufficient  Pharisee  believes 
in  human  depravity  as  far  as  the  poor  publican  is  concerned, 
and  is  willing  enough  to  heap  upon  him  condemnation,  but 
as  for  his  own  soul,  why  he  is  thankful  that  he  is  not  as 
other  men.  Not  as  other  men !  "  I  fast  twice  in  the  week," 
says  he,  "  I  give  tithes  of  all  that  I  possess."  He  under- 
went bodily  mortifications,  and  parted  with  his  goods  in 
charity,  and  these,  together  with  abstinence  from  several 
open  flagrant  sins,  are  righteousness  enough  for  him. 

Had  this  man,  think  you,  the  remotest  conception  that 
he  was  not  arrayed  in  a  panoply  proof  against  the  assaults 
of  the  devil  and  the  wrath  of  a  holy  God  ?  Did  he  not 
look  upon  his  haughty  bosom  as  steeled  with  the  breast- 
plate of  a  perfect  righteousness  ?  Yet  he  was  one  of  those 
of  whom  Christ  said,  "Woe  unto  you,Scribcs  and  Phari- 
sees." Naked  and  helpless  was  he,  and  exposed  to  all 
the  wiles  of  Satan.  The  material  of  his  breastplate  was 
spurious.  Are  there  not  many  Pharisees  in  Christian 
lands  ? 

Others,  again,  make  an  outward  reformation  their  breast- 
plate of  righteousness. 

Here  is  one  who,  in  his  former  life,  sinned  openly  and 
with  an  outstretched  arm ;  he  was  profane,  sensual,  extremely 
immoral  and  irreligious.     But,  to  some  extent,  he  has  been 


THE    BKEASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS.      97 


convinced  of  the  error  of  his  ways ;  he  now  refrains  from 
profanity,  profligacy,  and  other  open  immorality;  attends 
uj)on  the  public  ordinances  of  religion  ;  he  is  a  good  citizen, 
neighbour,  fother,  and  an  unfailing  friend  to  the  poor. 

Hard  is  it  to  convince  this  man  that  he  has  not  escaped 
from  the  power  of  the  evil  one,  and  wrought  out  for  him- 
self an  impregnable  breastplate.  His  outward  life  is  surely 
much  changed  for  the  better ;  his  conduct  is  approved  and 
commended  of  men ;  he  cannot  see  why,  also,  it  should  not 
be  accepted  of  God.  "  It  is  not  with  me,"  says  he,  "  as 
in  times  past ;  I  have  forsaken  my  wicked  ways ;  I  am 
not  as  these  profane,  immoral  men  around  me,  nor  even 
as  some  of  these  church-members ;  I  try  to  do  as  I 
would  be  done  by ;  I  am  regularly  in  my  place  at  the 
house  of  God,  and  do  something  in  the  cause  of  charity ; 
what  more  can  be  asked  ?"  Were  our  Lord  in  person  to 
repeat  to  him  the  commandments,  he  would  say,  "  All  these 
have  I  kept,"  though  he  might  not  add,  "  from  my  youth 
up."  He  has  wrought  out  for  himself  a  righteousness,  and 
under  this  piece  of  panoply  his  fears  are  lulled  to  rest,  and 
in  carnal  security  his  heart  cries.  Peace,  peace.  But  is 
there  peace  ?  Has  he  not  mistaken  the  material  of  which 
this  part  of  the  armour  must  be  made?     Is  not  his  Breast- • 

plate  also  spurious  ? 

9 


98      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


Others,  again,  fabricate  a  breastplate  of  righteousness 
by  attempting  to  overbalance  evil  deeds,  by  their  so-called 
good  deeds. 

Such  persons  reckon  up  their  relations  to  God,  after  the 
manner  of  a  commercial  transaction.  They  charge  them- 
selves with  what  they  regard  as  sins,  credit  themselves 
with  what  they  consider  good  works,  and  then  strike  the 
balance,  taking  care  always  that  this  shall  be  in  their  own 
favour.  Conscious  that  they  at  times  come  short  of  the 
strict  rules  of  Christian  morality, — admitting  that  even 
according  to  their  own  accepted  standard  they  are  found 
wanting,  they  must  by  some  means  cancel  the  handwriting 
against  them.  Hence  all  abstinence  from  open  immorality, 
all  church-going  and  respect  for  gospel  institutions,  all 
acts  of  charity,  are  set  down  as  so  many  good  works,  and 
they  cannot  believe  that  a  merciful  God  will  not  accept  the 
latter  as  a  compensation  full  for  all  claims  on  the  ground  of 
the  former.  They  see  not  that  these  so-called  good  works 
proceed  after  all  from  the  mere  selfishness  of  a  carnal  heart, 
that  there  is  no  real  hatred  for  sin  on  its  own  account,  nor 
aim  at  the  glory  of  God  in  all  they  do ;  nor  do  they  per- 
ceive that  even  if  their  obedience  from  any  given  time  were 
perfect,  so  that  thenceforth  they  sinned  not  at  all,  yet  this 
would  only  suffice  for  that  immediate  portion  of  life,  if  it 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  99 


in  any  manner  sufficed,  and  the  claims  because  of  former 
transgressions  must  still  remain  uncancelled  ;  that  the  heart 
is  still  unrenewed,  Christ  still  no  Saviour  to  them,  and  their 
souls  still  in  bondage  to  the  devil. 

Remember,  reader,  that  passage,  "  By  the  deeds  of  the 
law  shall  no  flesh  be  justified,"  and  then  see  how,  when 
weighed  in  the  balance  of  the  sanctuary,  all  this  commercial 
righteousness  is  found  wanting.  This  breastplate  may  lull 
conscience  to  rest,  and  induce  a  sense  of  security,  but  still 
there  can  be  no  safety  imder  so  spurious  a  piece  of  armour. 


100  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"  Having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness." 

The  essential  element  of  that  breastplate  which  forms  a 
part  of  the  gospel  panoply  is  the  righteousness  of  Christ. 
This  may  not  indeed  seem  to  be  the  immediate  and  direct 
defence  from  the  assaults  of  spiritual  enemies,  so  much  as  a 
protection  from  the  wrath  of  God  primarily,  and  then  as 
yielding  in  its  practical  results  a  means  of  defence  against 
the  devil  and  his  allies.  But  without  this  righteousness  it 
is  impossible  that  there  can  be  safety,  since  then  not  only 
would  we  be  exposed  to  those  formidable  evils  which  now 
beset  us,  but,  what  is  infinitely  worse,  God  himself  would 
be  against  us.  The  fiercest  of  all  the  dangers  which 
threaten  us  in  our  natural  condition  is  from  the  curse  of  an 
avenging  law  ;  and  until  this  can  be  averted  it  is  vain  for 
us  to  seek  refuge  from  any  other  evils.     A  God  who  is 


THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS.     101 


angry  with  us  every  day,  whose  wrath  abides  upon  us,  and 
whose  righteous  law  calls  continually  for  vengeance,  will 
afford  no  protection ;  we  shall  be  perfectly  exposed  to  the 
onsets  of  the  devil  and  his  hellish  crew ;  our  hearts  will 
favour  the  admission  of  our  worst  enemies,  our  destruction 
will  be  sure. 

For  this  reason,  then,  we  say  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
is  fundamental  to  the  protection  of  the  believer  from  any 
and  every  foe.  This  alone  can  appease  the  divine  wrath, 
satisfy  the  law's  demands,  roll  away  the  curse,  and  pur- 
chase for  us  the  favour  of  God. 

A  most  gracious  and  godlike  errand  was  it  truly,  for  the 
Lord  of  glory  to  veil  his  divinity  in  human  form,  that  he 
might  obey  the  law's  precepts  and  suffer  its  heavy  penalty 
in  our  room  and  stead,  and  thus  provide  for  us  that  which 
we  could  not  have  provided  for  ourselves.  And  yet  on 
this  errand  the  Lord  of  glory  came  ;  he  tabernacled  among 
men,  obeyed  the  law's  behests,  suffered  on  the  cross,  and 
lay  in  the  tomb.  Upon  the  tree  he  bore  the  curse  which 
would  have  sunk  us  all  to  hell.  He  who  knew  no  sin  was 
made  sin, — regarded  and  treated  as  a  sinner  by  substitu- 
tion for  us,  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  him. 

This  doctrine  of  the  substitution  of  Christ  for  the  sinner 

9* 


102  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS 


is  indispensable  to  salvation — it  is  the  great  "  mystery  of 
godliness."  Our  situation  demanded  it.  Against  the 
highest,  holiest  of  all  governments,  the  government  divine, 
we  were  rebels.  The  law  of  that  government  was  holy, 
and  as  immutable  as  holy.  It  could  not  lessen  its  demands 
to  come  down  to  our  inability  and  imperfections.  "  Cursed 
is  he  that  continueth  not  in  all  things  written  in  the  book 
of  the  law  to  do  them"  was  graven  irrevocably  upon  the 
tablets  of  revelation.  Not  having  continued  in  all  things 
written  in  the  law,  it  could  but  continue  to  pour  its  fearful 
curses  on  our  devoted  heads.  Hence  the  necessity  for  a 
substitute,  the  provision  of  a  righteousness  for  us,  v/hich 
could  be  laid  to  our  account,  and  being  considered  our  own, 
satisfy  the  law  so  that  it  should  curse  no  more. 

Now  do  you  not  see  in  the  work  which  Christ  has 
wrought  out  precisely  the  provision  which  your  case  de- 
mands? He  was  bound  to  no  obedience,  and  hence  what 
he  rendered  and  endured  was  voluntary,  and  by  reason  of 
the  mysterious  union  with  his  divine  nature,  which  was  in- 
finite, this  voluntary  obedience  and  suffering  were  possessed 
of  a  divine  virtue.  And  as  he  could  not  need  this  merit 
for  himself,  it  was  made  ready,  an  infinite  store,  to  be  laid 
over  to  the  account  of  the  hitherto  hopelessly  accursed. 
The  righteousness  thus  provided  being  received  by  the  sinner 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  103 


through  faith,  he  is  regarded  as  if  he  were  himself  righteous, 
freely  justified,  and  as  cordially  accepted  as  if  he  had  never 
sinned  at  all.  He  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  having  on  his 
righteousness,"  there  is  now  no  condemnation."  An  angry 
God  is  angry  now  no  more,  the  law  has  laid  its  vengeance 
by,  the  hitherto  terror-stricken  one  looks  up  with  the  spirit 
of  adoption,  and  in  child-like  affection  cries  "  Abba,  Fa- 
ther I"  Here,  then,  you  perceive  a  main  element  of  the 
Christian  warrior's  breastplate :  and  with  bosom  mailed  in 
this  heaven-provided  panoply  he  stands  accepted  an  heir 
of  glory,  safe  from  the  curses  of  Sinai,  harmless  from  the 
gates  of  hell. 

But  the  term  "  righteousness"  is  of  various  signification, 
and  there  are  other  senses  in  which  it  denotes  the  material 
of  the  Christian  soldier's  breastplate.  Christ's  righteous- 
ness affords  a  suflTicient  and  effectual  safeguard  against  the 
divine  curse ;  but  he  also  secures  through  his  intercession 
the  offices  of  the  Spirit  to  renew  us  in  the  whole  man,  after 
the  image  of  God,  and  enable  us  more  and  more  to  die 
unto  sin  and  live  unto  righteousnes.  In  other  words,  he 
secures  for  us  holiness  of  heart  and  life, — and  an  imparted 
as  well  as  an  imputed  righteousness  is  ours.  We  are  not  only 
"in  Christ,"  but  "Christ  is  formed  in  us,  the  hope  of 
everlasting   glory."      Of  this  latter  quality   the  Saviour 


104  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


speaks,  where  he  says,  "  Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled  ;"  and 
in  this  sense  also  the  apostle  speaks  in  this  same  epistle, 
where  he  says,  "Be  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  your  mind, 
and  put  on  the  new  man,  which  after  God  is  created  in 
righteousness  and  true  holiness." 

Personal  holiness,  then,  is  another  element  in  the  believers 
breastplate, — a  holiness  wrought  by  the  Spirit,  and  after 
the  pattern,  and  to  bring  us  into  the  likeness,  of  God.  A 
high  standard  is  this,  reader, — the  image  of  God,  and  yet  its 
attainment  is  indispensable  to  complete  your  panoply,  as 
you  may  see  from  several  reasons. 

First  of  all,  holiness  is  required  by  an  express  command. 
"  As  he  which  hath  called  you  is  holy,  so  be  ye  holy  in  all 
manner  of  conversation."  The  high  and  holy  One  here 
sets  himself  before  you,  and  tells  you  to  take  him  as  your 
pattern,  assigning  as  the  reason  his  own  intrinsic  purity. 
He  gives  no  mean  exemplar ;  he  honours  you  by  placing 
before  you  the  loftiest  of  all.  He  requires  holiness  of  his 
angels,  much  more  exalted  intelligences  than  yourself; 
should  you  not  count  yourself  happy  to  come  under  the 
same  command  which  sways  its  power  over  those  bright 
beings  who  inhabit  the  world  of  purity  above  ?  "  As  he 
which  hath  called  you  is  holy,  so  be  ye  holy:" — will  not 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  105 


\ 


the  good  soldier  strive  to  follow  his  leader  in  all  imitable 
virtues  ? 

Again,  by  the  law  of  consistent  association,  resemblance 
is  indispensable  to  congeniality  with  God.  "  How  can  two 
walk  together  except  they  be  agreed  ?"  How  can  you 
walk  with  God  except  you  bear  his  image,  breathe  his 
Spirit,  and  pursue  his  footsteps  ?  Without  love  for  himself, 
his  people,  his  service,  and  his  kingdom,  where  can  there 
be  the  principles  of  resemblance  on  which  true  friendship 
must  be  based  ? 

Nor  can  you  enter  heaven  without  personal  holiness,  for 
*' without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  Destitute 
of  a  likeness  to  God,  you  cannot  be  an  inhabitant  of  his 
eternal  dwelling-place  on  high.  Without  love  for  him, 
obedience  to  his  w^ll,  devotion  to  his  service,  congeniality 
with  his  friends,  could  heaven  be  heaven  to  you,  even  were 
you  admitted  within  the  portals  above  ?  With  no  spirit  of 
devotion  within  your  bosom,  there  would  be  no  heart  for 
the  song  of  the  blood-washed  throng  who  shout  the  anthem 
unto  God  and  to  the  Lamb ;  your  voice  and  your  harp 
would  be  silent,  or  if  audible  would  create  dissonance  in  the 
celestial  harmony.  Having  no  delight  in  the  object  which 
sheds  the  glory  and  awakes  the  symphonies  above,  you 
would  shrink  from  the  presence  of  him  who  sits  upon  the 


106  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


throne  ;  God  would  be  to  you  a  consuming  fire,  and  heaven 
would  not  be  heaven  to  you,  but  the  deepest,  most  unutter- 
able hell.  Alike,  then,  by  the  law  of  your  nature  and  of 
revelation,  is  demanded  this  second  element  of  the  Christian 
warrior's  breastplate. 

Do  you  inquire  as  to  the  nature  of  this  portion  of  the 
breastplate  ?  Have  you  seen  the  necessity  of  personal 
holiness,  and  do  you  wish  to  follow  after  its  attainment  ? 
The  incipiency  of  this  state  has  been  pointed  out,  in 
explaining  the  "  girdle  of  truth,"  where  a  renewed  nature 
is  set  forth  as  indispensable  to  genuine  godly  sincerity. 
The  principles  of  holiness  are  imparted  in  the  new  creation 
of  the  soul,  and  what  remains  is  that  you  should  seek  to 
carry  out  what  is  there  so  gloriously  begun. 

At  the  outset  of  your  spiritual  life  you  are  but  "  a  babe 
in  Christ  Jesus  ;"  you  are  afterwards  to  seek  the  estate  of 
manhood.  In  the  new  world  you  are  not  to  remain  an 
infant,  but  to  grow  up  to  a  fulness  of  knowledge,  strength, 
and  stature.  Under  a  divine  parentage,  and  the  tutelage  of 
a  heavenly  teacher,  and  amidst  the  household  of  faith,  there 
can  be  no  reason  for  a  state  of  perpetual  infancy.  Such 
there  may  seem  to  be  amongst  the  brotherhood,  but  if  there 
be  such, there  must  have  been  with  them  a  forgetfulness  of 
their  high  calling  and  glorious  privileges,  which  would 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  107 


argue  but  little  acquaintance  with  that  world  into  which 
grace  has  introduced  them.  They  are  at  best  but  "  weak 
and  sickly."  Be  not  like  to  them,  but  strive  to  outgrow 
them  in  spiritual  stature. 

As  in  the  natural  world  the  lapse  of  time  gives  a  more 
familiar  acquaintance  with  the  things  of  that  world,  so  must 
it  be  in  the  spiritual.  What  to  the  infant's  eyes  were 
strange  sights,  what  to  his  ears  were  strange  sounds,  what 
to  his  tongue  was  difficult  of  utterance,  what  his  hands 
were  unable  to  perform,  the  experience  and  tuition  of  his 
senses,  and  the  training  and  practice  of  muscle  and  of  limb, 
must  render  easy.  With  his  growth  he  acquires  clearer 
views,  firmer  principles,  greater  power  of  resistance, 
endurance,  labour, — and  he  who  once  hung  a  helpless 
babe  upon  his  mother's  breast,  is  now  the  stalwart  man, 
capable  of  large  thoughts,  hard  conflicts,  and  powerful 
achievements. 

This  scriptural  imagery  from  the  physical  man,  must 
have  its  application  spiritually  to  every  true  soldier  of  the 
cross,  and  all  the  principles  implanted  in  the  new  birth 
must  come  into  a  stronger  development  in  the  future  life, 
until  expanded  into  the  manhood  in  Christ  Jesus.  The 
sense  of  the  hatefulness  of  sin  must  grow  stronger,  until  the 
evil  thing  can  be  detected  where  in  the  spiritual  infancy  it 


108     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


eluded  observation ;  pride,  anger,  covetousness,  lust,  and 
all  those  corrupt  passions  which  made  up  the  remains  of 
sin,  must  have  been  struggled  with  until  a  greater  power 
of  resistance  is  attained  and  their  dominion  has  been 
weakened ;  faith,  love,  long-suffering,  patience,  and  every 
Christian  virtue  must  have  been  cultivated  until  their  exer- 
cise has  acquired  the  power  of  habit,  and  they  have 
become  as  it  were  natural  to  the  soul.  Thus  are  you  to 
acquire  purity  of  heart,  tenderness  of  conscience,  kindliness 
of  temper,  and  with  these  acquirements  you  will  have 
evidence  of  the  indwellings  of  that  "  holiness  without  which 
no  man  shall  see  the  Lord." 

The  motives  of  the  Christian  soldier,  even  where  he 
engages  in  the  same  general  employments  with  the  children 
of  this  world,  are  of  a  far  higher  and  purer  order  than 
theirs.  The  unrighteous  are  governed  by  principles  which 
have  supreme  reference  to  self.  What  will  promote  my 
comfort,  what  my  wealth,  what  my  good  name,  what  the 
position  of  my  family  in  society, — these  are  the  considera- 
tions w^hich  rule  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  disobedi- 
ence. Remove  these,  and  you  have  taken  away  the  main- 
springs from  their  every  enterprise. 

Not  thus  is  it  with  the  faithful  follow^er  of  Christ,  who 
knows  that  in  order  to  holiness  of  heart  there  must  be  a 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  109 


supreme  reference  to  the  interests  of  that  kingdom  of  which 
he  is  a  subject — to  the  glory  of  his  Lord  and  Master,  in 
all  that  he  does.  He  believes  that  whether  he  eats,  drinks, 
or  whatsoever  he  does,  he  should  do  all  for  the  glory  of 
God.  His  breastplate  has  to  do  with  his  bosom,  and  hence 
his  work  involves  much  attention  towards  keeping  right 
his  heart. 

But  a  slight  experience  in  the  spiritual  kingdom  is  requi- 
site in  order  to  discover  how  diffxult  it  is  to  keep  the  heart. 
Out  of  that  heart  are  the  issues  of  life.  The  outward 
conduct  may  be  ever  so  blameless,  but  if  the  motives  of  the 
heart  are  wrong,  all  is  wrong  in  the  sight  of  God.  "  As  a 
man  thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he."  God  looketh  not  upon 
the  outward  appearance.  He  judgeth  not  as  man  judgeth. 
He  sees  the  inside  of  the  whited  sepulchre ;  and  none  can 
be  the  possessors  of  his  imparted  righteousness  who  do  not 
seek  to  banish  from  that  sepulchre  the  rottenness  of  sin, 
and  the  dead  men's  bones  of  former  evil  passions,  principles, 
and  habits,  and  to  make  what  was  once  a  mere  garnished 
tomb  a  heaven-built  dwelling-place,  in  which  the  Spirit 
shall  reside  to  carry  on  his  blessed  work. 

That  man  has  greatly  mistaken  the  nature  of  true  holi- 
ness who  can  think  himself  a  follower  of  the  glorious  leader 

of  the  militant  hosts,  whilst  his  heart  is  but  a  place  where 

10 


110  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


polluted  imaginations  and  corrupt  thoughts  are  holding  their 
revels, — who,  although  avoiding  the  open  act  of  vileness, 
still  paints  in  fancy  the  varied  scenes  of  licentiousness 
and  vice,  holding  sweet  companionship  in  spirit  with  these 
hateful  things,  and  enjoying  in  imagination  what  he  fears 
to  practise  in  the  overt  act.  That  man,  too,  has  greatly 
mistaken  the  nature  of  true  holiness  who  is  not  habitually 
striving  to  keep  alive  within  his  soul  the  sacred  fires  of 
heavenly  love  and  of  every  other  Christian  grace. 

It  is  this  very  work  of  heart-keeping  which  is  at  once 
the  most  difficult  of  all  achievements,  and  the  most  striking 
peculiarity  of  those  who  march  under  the  banner  of  salva- 
tion. To  accomplish  this,  hard  struggles,  constant  watching, 
and  continuous  toil  are  required.  The  precepts,  the  prohibi- 
tions, the  examples  of  God's  word,  and  especially  the  pat- 
tern of  his  great  leader,  must  be  pondered.  He  must  com- 
pare his  own  heart  with  the  pious  breathings  of  those 
whose  inmost  spirits  have  been  opened  and  spread  out  on 
the  page  of  inspiration.  He  must  set  apart  special  and 
frequent  seasons  for  self-examination,  and  w^ith  an  unsparing 
hand  deal  with  himself  in  all  fidelity ; — sitting  in  judg- 
ment upon  his  most  sincere  services,  and  asking  of  the 
great  Searcher  of  all  hearts  to  search  him  as  with  a  lighted 
candle.     He  must  bring  out  from  their  lurking-places  all 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Ill 


secret  sins,  and,  though  they  may  be  dear  as  the  right  eye 
or  the  right  hand,  nail  them  to  the  cross.  He  must  watch 
against  the  uprisings  of  the  okl  Adam,  so  as  to  drive  him 
from  the  fiekl  before  he  shall  have  acquired  a  strong  foot- 
hold. He  must  be  constant  and  devout  in  his  attendance 
on  all  the  means  of  grace,  ever  striving  to  apply  to  himself 
the  truths  which  he  hears,  and  reduce  those  truths  to  prac- 
tice. He  must  be  much  in  prayer,  praying  that  he  may  not 
be  led  into  temptation,  praying  when  under  the  power  of 
temptation,  praying  for  new  supplies  of  knowledge,  a  more 
enlarged  experience  in  the  hidden  things  of  the  kingdom, 
and  for  a  more  expanded  measure  of  usefulness.  In  all 
these  particulars  he  must  strive  to  do  the  work  of  heart- 
keeping,  and  in  so  doing  will  be  girding  more  closely  to  his 
bosom  the  glorious  breastplate  of  the  panoply  divine. 


112     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"Having  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness." 

Where  there  is  a  heart  kept  right  with  God,  you  will  not 
be  surprised  to  see  the  evidences  of  this  breastplate  on  the 
outer  man ;  for  though  an  externally  correct  deportment 
will  not  of  itself  argue  personal  holiness,  yet  where  there 
is  within  this  spiritual  uprightness  towards  God,  there  is  a 
fountain  opened  from  which  shall  issue  streams  in  accord- 
ance with  these  inward  principles.  Their  sanctifying  power 
will  be  seen  and  felt  in  every  relation  which  the  soldier  of 
the  cross  maintains. 

Has  this  servant  of  Christ  been  a  man  of  violence,  whose 
angry  passions  have  rendered  him  the  terror  of  those 
about  him — who  has  been  wont  to  indulge  an  irritable  fretful 
nature  ?     In  putting  on  this  breastplate  he  must  put  this 


THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS.     113 


I 


nature  off.  True,  the  conquest  of  this  turbulent  spirit  will 
be  no  easy  achievement.  It  will  require  constant  vigilance, 
and  all  the  energies  which  by  grace  divine  he  may  be  ena- 
bled to  exert.  Many  will  be  the  occasions  for  repentance, 
many  the  bitter  tears  and  groans  over  the  outbursts  of  the 
hateful  spirit  by  which  he  has  been  taken  unawares.  Few 
but  those  who  have  been  in  the  conflicts  know  with  what 
the  choleric  man  must  contend  in  order  to  the  conquest  of 
his  former  self.  Yet  this  nature  must  be  subdued,  or  he 
cannot  bear  the  likeness  of  him  who  was  meek  and  lowly 
of  heart.  The  lion  must  be  transformed  to  the  lamb.  It  is 
no  sufficient  excuse  for  continuing  his  former  turbulent  self 
that  such  is  his  temperament,  that  he  is  not  like  the  mild  and 
amiable,  who  have  but  little  of  this  to  strive  against.  The 
very  object  of  that  religion  whose  profession  he  has  made 
is  to  renew  him  after  the  image  of  God.  And  w^here  there 
is  the  spirit  of  the  faithful  servant  there  will  be  this  renewal — 
the  lion  will  be  transformed  to  the  lamb.  Where  was  wont 
to  be  the  man  of  violence,  irritable  and  impatient,  will  now 
be  the  gentle  and  forbearing  Christian,  able  by  God's  grace 
even  to  endure  evil  treatment  and  reviling  for  the  sake  of 
him  who  when  reviled  reviled  not  again ;  for  such  is  the 
spirit  of  the  true  soldier,  of  every  one  who  wears  righteous- 
ness for  his  breastplate. 

10* 


114  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


This  implement  of  the  warfare  also  secures  for  its  wearer 
fidelity  in  all  the  interests  committed  to  him.  He  sustains 
important  relations  to  others,  to  those  allied  with  him  by 
the  ties  of  nature,  to  the  church  and  to  the  w^orld  at  large ; 
and  that  would  be  but  a  poor  pretence  to  holiness  whose 
influence  would  not  be  seen  and  felt  in  positions  so  important 
as  are  these.  The  enlistment  of  the  soldier  of  the  cross 
severs  not,  but  rather  binds  the  more  firmly,  the  ties  of  his 
natural  affections.  Such  ties  indeed  must  not  be  allowed  to 
intervene  between  him  and  his  Master,  or  to  impede  his  on- 
ward march,  and  there  may  be  occasions  when  he  must 
trample  upon  those  most  sacred  of  all  natural  affections, 
and  forsake  even  father,  mother,  kindred  and  friends,  and 
tread  his  thorny  path  alone. 

With  such  as  you,  reader,  in  this  favoured  day,  this 
great  crucifixion  of  the  heart's  affections  may  not  be  re- 
quired. You  are  permitted  still  to  inhabit  your  much-loved 
home ;  still  to  be  greeted  by  the  faces,  and  cheered  by  the 
voices,  of  those  who  call  you  father,  brother,  husband,  son ; 
and  your  piety  need  not  sever,  but  should  sanctify,  these 
endearing  bands.  In  this  "world  in  miniature"  your  light 
must  shine.  Here, where  your  character  is  seen  in  dishabille, 
where  you  are  most  unguarded,  speak  most  freely  the  honest 
sentiments  of  the  heart  and  show  out  your  real  self — here 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  115 


it  is  that  the  holiness  of  the  Christian  must  be  seen — 
must  be  felt. 

Those  who  are  your  companions  here,  perhaps,  may  take 
their  impressions  of  the  soldiery,  the  cause,  and  the  king- 
dom, from  what  they  witness  in  you.  They  know  your 
high  profession,  they  have  heard  you  called  by  the  name 
of  Christian,  seen  you  sit  at  the  sacramental  board,  bow 
your  knees  in  prayer,  and  keep  company  with  the  hosts  who 
are  ostensibly  on  a  pilgrimage  for  a  better  land.  What  if, 
amidst  all  that  such  a  profession  would  give  reason  to  ex- 
pect, they  should  see  you  no  better  than  themselves,  and 
perhaps  in  some  respects  not  even  so  exemplary  ? 

"Be  ye  circumspect,"  is  a  divine  injunction,  and  in  none 
of  life's  numerous  scenes  is  there  more  need  for  circumspec- 
tion than  where  the  Christian  is  in  the  midst  of  his  household 
circle.  Unkindness  and  injustice  there  cannot  pass  un- 
heeded. The  failure  to  render  to  all  within  that  circle  the 
dues  which  for  so  many  reasons  they  have  a  right  to  expect, 
will  produce  an  impression  more  lasting  than  if  graven  on 
tablets  of  brass.  To  parents,  brothers,  sisters,  husband, 
wife,  servants — all  the  members  of  this  world  in  miniature, 
the  faithful  follower  of  Christ  will  evince  the  fruits  of  this 
holiness  of  nature  by  his  constant  forbearance,  kind  consi- 
deration, respect  and  courtesy,  and  especially  his  concern 


116  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


that  they  may  join  him  in  his  march  to  the  Canaan  of  his 
hopes.  Thus  living,  in  that  sj^here  also  will  be  seen  the 
breastplate  of  his  righteousness. 

Or  if  you  pass  beyond  the  threshold  of  your  home  out 
into  the  busy  world,  the  sanctifying  power  of  personal  holi- 
ness must  also  be  seen  and  felt.  Men  of  the  world  will  take 
knowledge  of  the  Christian  soldier,  as  to  whether  or  not  he 
has  been  with  his  Master.  They  know  also  what  his 
calling  implies,  and  wdiat  they  have  a  right  to  expect  from 
one  who,  by  implication,  has  passed  condemnation  upon 
themselves.  Not  sleepless  will  they  be  to  your  defects, 
not  slow  to  point  the  finger  of  derision  at  your  incon- 
sistencies, nor  in  turn  to  condemn  you  for  professing  what 
you  do  not  practise. 

The  customs  of  business  tolerate  much  which  the  spirit- 
ually upright  man  should  regard  with  aversion.  Not  a  few 
of  the  ostensible  followers  of  the  Saviour  are  beguiled  into 
what  are  sometimes  termed  the  "  tricks  of  trade,"  under 
the  plea  that  such  practices  are  indispensable  to  success. 
And  what  if  they  w^ere  indispensable  to  success  ?  Would 
this  render  lawful  that  which  clearly  contravenes  the 
settled  principles  of  honesty  ?  If  the  world  at  large  can 
only  thrive  by  keeping  out  of  sight  the  defects  and  exag- 
gerating the  merits  of  their  merchandise,  is  this  a  reason 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  117 


I 


why  the  Christian,  who  is  set  for  a  light  to  the.  world, 
should  follow  that  world  into  its  realms  of  darkness  ? 
Better  that  success  w^ere  never  yours,  better  live  in  poverty 
on  its  bread  and  water,  keeping  a  pure  conscience,  than  roll 
in  luxury  and  wealth,  dishonouring  your  high  profession. 
If  you,  set  as  you  are  as  an  example  to  others,  follow  the 
multitude  to  do  evil,  wherein  are  ye  better  than  they  ?  Is 
gain  your  chief  good,  that  at  its  shrine  must  be  sacrificed 
the  lofty  principles  of  true  piety  ?  Wherein  is  your  war- 
fare, if  not  against  the  obvious  obliquities  of  trade, — a 
warfare  the  more  demanded  as  the  evil  is  more  prevalent  ? 

"Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  is  a  proverb  which  the 
Christian  soldier  does  not  forget;  but  on  far  loftier  ground 
than  that  of  mere  policy  does  his  integrity  rest.  Before 
him  stands  that  law  which  he  feels  is  holy,  just,  and  good, 
with  the  illustrious  example  of  his  great  leader  as  well  as  of 
the  followers  who  have  gone  before  him ;  in  his  vision  rises 
pre-eminent  the  intrinsic  excellence  of  right  principles,  the 
honour  of  his  glorious  calling,  and  the  necessity  of  a  war- 
fare against  the  evils  he  encounters ;  and  taking  as  his 
standard  neither  the  conduct  of  the  multitude,  nor  the 
prospect  of  greater  thrift,  he  is  an  upright  man  because  he 
feels  that  it  is  the  will  of  his  Master  and  the  choice  of  his 
heart  that  he  should  be  such.     Ten  thousand  times  rather 


lis  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


would  he  lose  all  the  gam  this  world  could  give,  than  part 
with  the  principles  of  a  lofty  Christian  integrity. 

Do  you  wish  to  look  upon  one  of  like  passions 
with  yourself,  wearing  this  breastplate  of  the  spiritual 
armour, — bringing  forth  in  his  life  the  kindness,  gentleness, 
and  uprightness,  which  emanate  from  an  indwelling  holiness 
of  heart  ?  See,  then,  the  picture  painted  by  the  pencil  of 
inspiration — "  I  put  on  righteousness,''^  says  Job,  "  and  it 
clothed  me ;  my  judgment  was  as  a  robe  and  a  diadem.  I 
was  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  was  I  to  the  lame :  I  was  a 
father  to  the  poor,  and  the  cause  which  I  knew  not  I 
searched  out.  And  I  brake  the  jaws  of  the  wicked,  and 
plucked  the  spoil  out  of  his  teeth."  Or  do  you  wish  to 
hear  the  utterance  of  apostolic  lips  as  to  what  you  should 
be?  Listen  to  such  language  as  this, — "Abhor  that 
which  is  evil,  cleave  to  that  which  is  good.  Be  kindly 
afFectioned  one  to  another,  in  honour  preferring  one  another." 
"  Bless  them  which  curse  you,  bless  and  curse  not."  "  Re- 
compense to  no  man  evil  for  evil.  Provide  things  honest 
in  the  sight  of  all  men.  If  it  be  possible,  live  peaceably 
with  all  men.  Dearly  beloved,  avenge  not  yourselves,  but 
rather  give  place  unto  wrath ;  for  it  is  written,  Vengeance 
is  mine  ;  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord.  Therefore,  if  thine 
enemy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink ;  for 


THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS.       119 


in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head.  Be 
not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with  good !" 
*'  Avoid  the  appearance  of  evil."  Or  would  you  listen  to 
language  directly  from  the  lips  of  him  at  whose  call  you 
have  come  up  to  the  warfare  ?  Then  hear  him,  heed  him, 
while  he  says  in  familiar  words,  "  Let  your  light  so  shine 
before  men  that  they  may  see  your  good  works  and  glorify 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  Do  this,  reader,  and 
then  beyond  all  question,  and  over  and  above  all  your 
imperfections,  you  will  wear  a  heaven-wrought  righteousness 
for  your  breastplate. 

Now  you  will  not  wonder  that  a  piece  of  panoply,  such 
as  you  have  just  seen,  should  prove  a  defence  to  the  Chris- 
tian soldier.  Look  at  the  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises  of  God  to  the  man  of  uprightness.  "  For  thou, 
Lord,  wilt  bless  the  righteous ;  with  favour  wilt  thou  com- 
pass him  as  with  a  shield."  "The  righteous  shall  hold  on 
his  way."  "  Many  are  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous,  but 
the  Lord  delivereth  him  out  of  them  all."  "  Whoso  walketh 
uprightly  shall  be  saved."  "  He  is  a  buckler  to  them  that 
walk  uprightly."  "  Such  as  are  upright  are  his  delight." 
"  Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end 
of  that  man  is  peace."  "  For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and 
shield  ;  the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory  ;  no  good  thing 


120     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly."  Such 
are  some  of  the  promises  which  are  vouchsafed  to  the 
spiritually  upright  man.  The  high  priest  of  the  Levitical 
economy  wore  upon  his  bosom  a  rich  and  costly  breastplate, 
studded  with  precious  stones  ;  but  these  precious  promises, 
with  the  blessings  temporal,  spiritual,  and  eternal,  which 
they  comprehend — these  are  the  priceless  gems  which  glit- 
ter in  the  breastplate  of  the  soldier  of  the  cross. 

And  why  should  not  a  breastplate  studded  with  such 
jewels  be  a  defence  to  the  bosom  of  the  Christian  in  his 
warfare  ?  What  is  there  which  he  can  possibly  require, 
which  in  these  and  like  promises  is  not  included  ?  If  he  is 
to  hold  on  his  way,  to  be  the  delight  of  the  Lord,  to  be 
compassed  with  favour  as  with  a  shield,  to  be  delivered  out 
of  all  his  afflictions,  and  his  end  to  be  peace — if  God  is  as  a 
sun  to  illumine  his  way,  as  a  shield  to  defend  him — if  grace 
for  every  possible  emergency  of  life  or  death,  and  glory 
after  death,  are  to  be  his,  and  from  him  no  good  thing  is  to  be 
withheld,  then  say,  reader,  what  else  can  the  soldier  of 
salvation  ask  ?  What  other  wants  can  he  have  beside  those 
embraced  under  these  varied  and  wonderful  promises  ? 
Why  should  not  a  breastplate  combining  such  elements  be 
to  him  a  certain  defence,  cheering  him  when  discouraged, 
comforting  him  when  afflicted,  bringing  him  back  when  he 


THE    BREASTPLATE    OF    RIGHTEOUSNESS.     121 


has  turned  aside  into  dangerous  paths,  and  in  all  times  of 
trial  and  conflict  still  whispering  assurances  of  safety  and 
ultimate  triumph  ?  Why  should  not  the  soldier  hold  on  his 
way  when  he  has  bound  on  his  bosom  righteousness  for  his 
breastplate  ? 

No  little  protection,  also,  is  there  furnished  by  the  inward 
approval  which  is  enjoyed  by  the  soldier  who  has  on  this 
implement  of  righteousness.  That  man  who  has  his  con- 
science against  him  labours  always  at  a  disadvantage.  In 
no  position  can  human  power  be  reduced  to  more  perfect 
weakness  than  where  the  spirit  is  oppressed  with  a  con- 
science ill  at  ease ;  where  it  is  fettered  and  bound  down  by 
a  sense  of  its  own  wrong-doings.  With  the  loftier  and  sterner 
part  of  his  nature  against  him,  the  soldier  is  not  his  entire 
self  in  any  enterprise,  he  is  only  a  small  fraction  of  the 
man.  Condemned  by  his  own  heart,  how  can  he  lift  up  his 
countenance  with  joy,  or  go  fearless  on  his  march  ?  Easily 
must  he  be  discouraged,  dismayed,  and  vanquished.  The 
same  tribes  of  Israel  who,  in  the  days  when  faith  and  love 
were  living  in  their  bosoms,  were  able  to  meet  and  trample 
under  their  triumphant  feet  every  foe,  when  afterwards,  by 
forsaking  God  and  doing  deeds  of  wickedness,  they  had 
brought  upon  themselves  the  consciousness  of  guilt,  were 

oppressed  with  such  a  faintness  of  heart  that  they  were 

11 


122     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


chased  by  the  sound  of  a  shaking  leaf,  and  fled  when  there 
was  none  pursuing. 

But  when  instead  of  the  condemning  there  is  the  approv- 
ing conscience,  the  mountain-weight  which  oppresses  the 
spirit  and  crushes  the  energies  is  removed.  With  an 
approving  conscience  the  Christian  soklier  goes  forth  in 
his  entire  strength,  with  his  house  no  longer  divided  against 
itself.  Cheered  and  braced  up  by  the  certain  conviction 
that  he  is  walking  safely,  he  has  secured  a  strength  and 
evenness  of  purpose,  a  resolution  and  fearlessness  more  than 
human, — that  which  fits  one  man  to  chase  a  thousand  and 
»two  to  put  ten  thousand  to  flight.  He  feels  the  power 
and  shows  the  efficacy  of  the  principle  of  holiness,  and  in 
every  evil  day  stands  safely  sheltered  by  righteousness  for 
his  breastplate. 

And  is  not  a  blameless  life  of  itself  a  defensive  armour  to 
the  militant  soldier  ?  Is  there  not  in  his  purity  of  heart, 
integrity  of  deportment,  faithfulness  in  all  relative  duties, 
that  which  defies  successful  assault,  and  renders  him  in 
every  trial  ultimately  a  victor  ?  It  has  been  said  of  one  of 
our  most  eminent  statesmen,  that  he  declared,  that  after  all 
the  conclusive  arguments  usually  furnished  in  treatises  on 
the  evidences  of  the  Christian  religion,  to  his  mind  the 
most  unanswerable  of  arguments  as  to  the  divine   origin 


THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  123 


of  this  religion,  was  the  holy  life  of  its  genuine  professor. 
Comparatively  easy  is  it  for  the  infidel  to  find  objections  to 
the  faith  of  the  Christian,  to  cavil  and  scoff  at  what  he 
terms  its  inconsistencies,  but  hard  is  it  for  him  to  confute 
the  power  of  a  holy  life.  Here  is  a  preacher  whose  voice 
must  be  heard,  whose  power  cannot  fail  to  be  felt. 

As  with  the  insincere,  so  the  very  principles  and  conduct 
of  the  unrighteous  man  expose  him  to  assault  and  danger. 
With  a  raiment  all  tattered,  he  is  exposed  to  the  shafts  of 
every  adversary.  His  conduct  but  multiplies  his  enemies. 
He  tramples  upon  the  weak,  he  is  unjust  in  his  dealings, 
treacherous  and  wicked  in  his  ways,  and  having  forfeited 
alike  the  confidence  of  himself  and  of  those  who  know  him, 
he  has  excited  prejudice,  been  denounced  by  the  virtuous, 
and  gained  the  enmity  of  the  victims  of  his  wrongs.  The 
devil  has  already  conquered  him  and  rules  within  him,  and 
stands  ready  at  the  appointed  time  to  shut  him  up  in  chains 
and  darkness. 

How  unlike  to  this  the  Christian  soldier, — meek,  upright, 
blameless,  kind,  and  considerate,  faithful  in  his  every 
calling, — he  commands  respect  even  where  he  is  not  loved, 
and  by  his  integrity  turns  back  the  shafts  which  the 
enemies  of  his  Master  and  himself  would  plunge  into  his 
bosom.     From  the  fires  which  may  be  kindled  about  him 


124     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


he  comes  out  purified ;  and  from  all  his  conflicts  emerges 
not  only  unhurt,  but  strengthened  from  the  contest,  and  in 
uprightness  pursues  his  onward,  upward  march,  safe  under 
the  breastplate  of  his  heaven- wrought  righteousness. 

You  have  now  seen,  reader,  the  believer's  breastplate. 
You  have  been  shown  its  nature  and  its  protecting  power ; 
it  is  to  be  hoped  you  will  wear  this  piece  of  panoply  upon 
your  own  bosom,  and  by  your  own  experience  also  learn 
its  strength  and  power.  It  will  shield  the  very  vitals  of 
your  spiritual  Ijfe,  and  fully  and  finally  thwart  the  purposes 
of  the  evil  one  for  your  destruction.  Wearing  this,  his  darts 
Avill  never  strike  you  dead,  but  however  fiery  they  may 
be,  they  shall  fall  harmless  at  your  feet.  I  beseech  you, 
therefore,  put  on  and  bind  close  to  your  bosom  the  breast- 
plate of  this  gospel  panoply. 


THE     SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  125 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE     SANDALS     OF     SERVICE. 

"And  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace." 

The  panoply  of  salvation  leaves  no  part  of  the  spiritual 
man  unclad.  All  the  members  being  regarded  as  elements 
of  the  one  body,  and  each  necessary  to  the  vigour  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  whole  man,  they  are  all  provided  with  the 
means  of  security,  that  the  Christian  soldier  may  go  forth 
to  the  war  thoroughly  equipped. 

You  will,  of  course,  at  once  perceive  that  though  the  feet 
are  among  the  more  uncomely  and  dishonoured  members, 
yet  it  is  indispensable  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the 
spiritual  warfare,  that  they  be  so  provided  for  as  to  lit  the 
soldier  to  go  with  fearlessness  and  agility  on  his  militant 

way, — even  though  this  should  be  strewn  thick  with  mire, 

11* 


126  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


snares,  and  pointed  rocks,  placed  there  for  his  overthrow 
by  his  formidable  and  vigilant  adversaries. 

The  ancient  soldier  no  sooner  heard  the  tocsin  of  war, 
than  he  buckled  on  afresh  his  helmet,  breastplate  and  girdle, 
and  his  sandals  also.  Such  sandals  as  he  wore  were  usually- 
made  of  thick  leather  spiked  on  the  sole,  and  to  these  leaves 
of  brass  were  often  attached  for  affording  protection  to  the 
leg.  The  leather  and  brass  would  shield  the  soldier  against 
the  thorns  and  stones  the  enemy  might  have  placed  in  his 
way ;  the  spikes  would  prevent  him  from  slipping  in  the 
mire ;  and  the  general  utility  of  the  whole  article  would 
appear  in  the  activity  and  steadiness  with  which  he  was 
enabled  to  enter  the  field  of  strife — his  feet  being  thoroughly 
shod. 

Now,  the  apostle  tells  us  that  in  like  manner  the  Chris- 
tian soldier,  in  whose  ears  the  clang  of  the  war-trumpet  is 
always  ringing,  must  furnish  himself  for  the  conflict  by 
putting  on  for  sandals  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of 
peace  ; — his  feet  must  be  always  shod,  ready  for  the  call  to 
arms. 

We  understand  the  figure  here  used  as  simply  denoting 
the  readiness  in  which  all  are,  who  have  entered  the  armies 
of  the  CaptaiJi- Ti'f  Salvation,  "fbfr  executing  "his  commands. 
They  must  not  only  have  the  disposition  to  do  his  will,  but 


THE     SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  127 


must  have  their  feet  actually  shod,  m  readiness  for  momen- 
tary service. 

This  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God  is  clearly  very  un- 
like the  spirit  of  those  who  are  altogether  indisposed  to  do 
what  God  requires  ;  and  not  a  few  such  are  there  amongst 
those  whose  privilege  it  might  be  to  wear  the  panoply  and 
fight  in  the  armies  of  Zion.  The  call  for  recruits  to  these 
sacramental  hosts  is  continually  ringing  in  the  ears  of  all 
who  dwell  in  gospel  lands.  They  hear  it  from  the  pages 
of  the  Bible,  from  the  voice  of  pious  affection  in  the  private 
W' alks  of  life,  from  the  messages  of  the  sanctuary,  from  the 
loud  calls  of  Providence,  and  the  gentle  whisperings  of  the 
Spirit.  The  rich  folds  of  the  banner  of  the  cross  are 
thrown  out  far  and  wide,  and  beneath  it  every  living  crea- 
ture who  hears  the  call  is  invited  to  rally. 

And  yet  how  few  obey  this  summons !  How  listless  and 
indifferent  the  mass  of  men  seem  as  to  the  whole  cause  for 
which  the  great  contest  is  going  on !  How  obstinately  and 
daringly  do  they  set  at  defiance  the  commands  of  God ! 
Their  language  is — "  We  will  not  have  this  man  to  reign 
over  us."  They  have  no  readiness  nor  desire  to  do  service 
in  the  armies  of  salvation.  Their  feet  are  not  shod  with 
the  preparation  of  the  gospel. 

And  very  unlike,  too,  are  those  who  are  shod  with  these 


128     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


spiritual  sandals  to  such  as  make  their  religion  consist  in  the 
great  extent  and  correctness  of  their  religious  knowledge. 
Important  as  is  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  great  doc- 
trines of  God's  word  in  their  dogmatic  as  well  as  their 
practical  connections,  is  it  necessary  to  assure  you  that 
there  is  a  difference  between  knowing  God's  will  and  doing 
it  ?  The  influence  of  the  fall  has  sadly  destroyed  the 
power  of  the  understanding  over  the  decisions  of  the  will 
and  the  affections ;  and  hence  there  may  be  ever  so  much 
light  in  the  understanding  and  still  ever  so  much  enmity  to 
God,  and  determination  to  resist  his  commands,  in  the  heart. 
In  fact,  the  more  the  light  is  poured  into  the  mind,  until  it 
is  regenerated,  the  more  fierce  and  determined  are  the  mani- 
festations of  rebellion  against  the  sovereignty  of  the  Most 
High.  Hence  there  may  be  the  most  thorough  acquaint- 
ance with  systematic  and  polemic  theology,  and  with  the 
whole  polity  and  order  of  the  visible  church  in  its  most 
scriptural  forms,  and  a  willingness  to  contend,  by  the  carnal 
weapons  of  human  reason,  in  their  defence  to  the  last,  and 
yet  there  may  be  the  most  utter  indisposition  to  reduce  to 
practice  the  self-denying  principles  of  the  gospel,  which 
have  to  do  with  the  heart  and  life.  Much  easier  is  it  found 
to  be  to  learn  religion  with  the  head  than  to  receive  it  in 
the   heart;    to    contend  in   argument  against  an  errorist, 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  129 


than  to  carry  on  a  spiritual  warfare  against  our  own  darling 
sins.  Much  easier  is  it  to  give  vent  to  the  prejudices  and 
passions  of  an  unsanctified  nature  in  contentions  about  the 
outworks  of  the  gospel,  than  to  apply  its  great  truths  to 
the  inner  man,  and  seek  to  curb  and  conquer  every  unkind 
and  unholy  disposition. 

Hence,  we  say  there  are  those  who  make  their  rigid 
adherence  to  a  correct  creed  the  sum  and  substance  of 
their  godliness.  Very  far  are  they  from  a  spirit  of  humilia- 
tion and  self-reproach  because  of  sin ;  very  far  are  they 
from  heart-searching  and  a  sense  of  unwortliiness  and  weak- 
ness ;  very  far  from  seeking  after  ardent  love  and  zeal  in  spir- 
itual things.  Such  employments  they  look  upon  as  enthusi- 
astic and  fanatical,  and  altogether  beyond  their  sphere  ;  and 
very  naturally  settle  themselves  down  in  the  mere  form  of 
godliness,  without  any  exhibition  of  its  life  and  power. 

Now,  all  such  may  make  a  show  of  what  may  seem  to 
be  some  of  the  implements  of  the  gospel  panoply,  but  it  is 
only  the  show  of  them.  Having  no  disposition  to  do  the 
will  of  God,  they  give  indisputable  evidence  that  they 
are  not  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

And  I  might  also  mention  amongst  those  who  are  in  like 
manner  unshod,  such  as  seem  willing  to  leave  to  others  all 
the  labours  and  conflicts  which  Zion  demands.     No  one 


130  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


who  professedly  enlists  in  the  service  of  Christ  woukl 
perhaps  pretend  that  he  could  expect  to  perform  duty  here 
without  self-denial ;  no  one  would  even  intimate  that  the 
claims  of  Zion  were  not  strong  and  urgent,  and  that  her 
work  must  not  be  left  undone ;  and  yet  are  there  not  multi- 
tudes who  will  take  such  language  on  their  lips,  who  never 
seem,  for  one  moment,  to  imagine  that  they  have  personally 
either  self-denial  to  practise,  or  any  work  to  do  ? 

"  There  was  a  certain  man,"  of  whom  we  read  in  the 
gospel,  "  who  had  two  sons,  to  whom  he  said.  Go  work, 
to-day  in  my  vineyard.  And  one  of  them  said,  I  go,  sir, 
and  went  not."  Does  not  this  individual  stand  forth 
as  a  fit  representative  of  a  very  large  class  ?  How  many 
will  with  great  promptitude  say,  by  their  profession  and 
words,  I  go,  sir,  but  yet  in  practice  will  never  go  to  the 
work  at  all.  They  admit,  indeed,  that  the  vineyard  affords 
a  noble  field  of  labour,  and  that  not  for  the  world  should 
the  seed  be  unsown,  nor  the  harvest  unreaped  and  un- 
gathered  ;  and  will  stand  and  look  with  admiration  at  those 
engaged  in  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  and  sound  their 
praises,  and  say,  that  if  ever  there  were  good  men  on  earth 
surely  these  are  such ;  and  yet  not  one  finger  will  they  lift 
towards  helping  on  the  work,  and  not  a  thought  seems  to 
have  entered  their  minds  that  with  such  labour  they  have 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  131 


even  the  most  distant  connection.  They  approve  of 
schemes  of  benevolence,  meetings  for  devotion,  and  hibours 
of  charity  amongst  the  poor  and  afflicted ;  and  yet  they 
neither  give  to,  nor  assist  in  collecting  for,  benevolent 
objects  ;  nor  are  they  ever  seen  at  a  prayer-meeting  ;  nor  do 
they  go  into  houses  of  affliction  and  want  as  ministers  of 
mercy,  nor  can  it  be  discovered  that  they  are  actively  engaged 
in  any  manner  whatever  about  the  affairs  of  Zion.  I  think, 
then,  you  will  admit  that  whatever  else  such  persons  may 
be, — however  blameless  in  their  lives, — well  instructed  and 
apparently  sincere, — whatever  other  portions  of  the  panoply 
they  may  seem  to  have,  they  are  not  yet  shod  with  the 
preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

And  very  nearly  allied  to  such  are  those  w^ho  seem  to 
make  it  a  matter  of  principle  to  do  as  little  spiritual  service 
as  may  seem  at  all  compatible  with  entering  heaven. 

We  take  it  for  granted  that  the  true  soldier  does  not 
parley  as  to  the  amount  of  duty  he  is  to  perform.  He  is 
not  halting  at  his  enlistment,  to  reduce  the  service  de- 
manded to  the  very  lowest  possible  degree ;  but  still  are 
there  not  many  who  desire  to  pass  for  good  soldiers,  of 
whom  this  course  of  selfishness  and  compromise  is  literally 
true  ?  Even  in  the  ranks  of  the  stoutest-hearted  and  best 
disciplined  army,  there  will  be  some  whose  bosoms  are  not 


132     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


borne  up  by  the  true  spirit  of  daring  and  devotion ; — who 
are  willing  to  relieve  themselves  of  hardships  by  pushing 
them  off  on  others,  and  whose  whole  study  seems  to  be  to 
find  out  some  effectual  way  of  securing  the  spoils  of  victory 
with  the  smallest  possible  amount  of  service. 

Now,  need  I  remind  you  that  there  are  some  such  in  the 
ranks  of  the  church  militant,  who,  so  far  from  having 
thrown  themselves,  w4th  the  spirit  of  martyrs,  into  the  war 
in  which  Zion  is  engaged,  are  willing  to  have  as  little  share 
in  her  struggles  and  toils  as  is  at  all  compatible  with  shar- 
ing in  her  triumphs?  Do  they  ever  stand  foremost  in  any 
enterprise  for  good  ?  Was  it  ever  heard,  that  with  them 
originated  an  attempt  of  this  nature  even  the  most  trivial  ? 
Have  they  bestirred  themselves,  even  amidst  the  successful 
campaigns  of  revival  seasons,  or  come  to  the  help  of  Zion 
in  times  of  declension  and  apparent  prostration  ?  Or  have 
they  been  engaged  in  her  benevolent  operations,  or  in  the 
labours  of  the  Sabbath-school,  or  of  the  societies  where 
work  is  to  be  done  for  charity  ?  Do  they  not  habitually 
absent  themselves  from  all  occasions  where  special  effort  or 
self-denial  is  demanded,  and  excuse  themselves  so  entirely 
from  any  participation  in  the  church's  labours  and  conflicts, 
that  they  would  seem  to  be  little  else  than  mere  hangers- 
on  of  the  camp  ?     Where  are  their  toils  ?    Not  in  the  high- 


THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  133 


ways,  not  in  the  church,  not  perhaps  even  in  the  religious 
training  of  their  own  families.  Where  are  their  struggles  ? 
Not  in  their  closets,  not  in  their  own  bosoms, — for  they 
hardly  know  what  the  Scriptures  mean  when  speaking 
of  the  spiritual  life  as  a  state  of  warfare.  Some  may, 
indeed,  say  that  they  have  no  time  for  the  various  methods 
of  doing  good  by  which  the  church  carries  on  her  conquests, 
but  that  they  wish  well  to  them ;  but  what  would  you 
think  of  that  soldier  who,  when  the  tocsin  of  war  was 
sounded  and  the  hosts  were  drawn  up  in  battle  array, 
should  satisfy  himself  with  saying  that  he  wished  well 
to  his  fellow-soldiers,  and  sincerely  hoped  they  might 
win  the  day,  but  that  for  himself,  he  really  had  no  time 
for  fighting !  What  leader  would  not  greatly  prefer  that 
all  such  should  imitate  the  example  of  the  "fearful  and 
afraid"  in  the  army  of  Gideon,  and  remove  from  their 
fellow-soldiers  the  disheartening  effect  of  their  example  by 
returning  to  their  homes?  Surely,  with  such  there  is  no 
readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God, — they  are  not  shod  with 
the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

12 


134  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


CHAPTEH  XII. 

THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE. 

"  And  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace." 

A  READINESS  to  do  the  will  of  God,  is  an  inseparable  part  of 
the  genuine  Christian  character.  Indolence  is  a  thing  for 
which  no  provision  has  been  made  in  the  armies  of  salva- 
tion. Unprofitable  servants  are  to  be  cast  into  outer  dark- 
ness and  not  to  be  marched  into  the  realms  of  light  and 
glory.  He  who  enlists  in  the  warfare  must  be  ready  for 
the  march,  and  he  who  joins  not  the  soldiery  when  they  go 
forth  to  battle  and  to  conquest,  is  not  a  true  follower,  but  a 
traitor  in  the  camp. 

It  has  never  once  entered  the  mind  of  the  thoroughly 
mailed  warrior  that  a  soldier's  life  is  a  life  of  ease.  At  his 
enlistment  he   did  not  presume  that  he  was   to   feed  on 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  135 


dainties,  repose  on  beds  of  down,  drink  to  satiety  from  cool, 
refreshino;  fountains,  or  dwell  where  his  slumbers  would  not 
be  disturbed  by  the  signal  of  alarm,  and  where  he  should 
never  be  called  to  contend  in  the  heat  of  battle,  or  have  his 
garments  drenched  in  blood.  At  the  outset  he  was  well  aware 
that  hardship  was  to  be  a  part  of  his  lot.  He  knew  that 
he  was  to  pitch  his  tent  in  an  enemy's  country  ;  that  he  was 
often  to  fare  roughly  ;  that  long  and  dreary  nights  he  must 
walk  the  sentinel's  rounds ;  that  the  noise  and  tumult  of 
battle,  and  tedious  marches  with  all  the  privations  of  camp- 
life,  were  to  be  to  him  familiar  things. 

Hence  it  will  not  seem  strange  that  being  shod  with  this 
preparation  of  the  gospel,  he  should  endure  hardness  when 
it  comes ;  that  in  the  long  and  forced  marches  he  should  be 
among  the  most  patient  and  untiring ;  that  he  should  go 
out  in  the  dark  and  stormy  night  and  with  sleepless  vigi- 
lance watch  at  the  sentry's  post ;  or  that  if  there  should 
come  a  call  for  volunteers  to  scale  some  fortress  of  extreme 
peril,  or  attempt  some  enterprise  of  special  daring,  he 
should  answer  the  summons,  and  stand  forth  ready  to  do 
his  part.  None  of  these  things  move  him,  for  it  was  to 
encounter  just  such  things  as  these  he  had  at  the  outset 
buckled  his  armour  on. 

The  Christian  soldier  has,  from  the  first,  considered  that 


136  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


language  of  his  Master,  "  If  any  man  will  come  after  me, 
let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me." 
He  has  seen  before  him  all  the  toils  and  hardships  of  this 
life  of  warfare,  and  only  hoped  for  rest  when  the  march 
should  have  been  for  ever  ended,  and  his  armour  laid  aside, 
amid  the  scenes  of  eternal  victory;  and  hence  he  has  been 
ever  ready  to  hear  the  voice  of  his  divine  leader,  and  to  the 
utmost  of  that  power  which  grace  imparts  to  do  that 
leader's  will.     He  is  shod  with  the  sandals  of  the  gospel. 

And  let  me  ask,  is  not  this  readiness  to  do  the  will  of 
God  enforced  upon  us  by  the  very  nature  of  the  service  in 
which  we  professed  to  have  embarked  ?  Does  not  every 
soldier  of  the  cross  profess  to  have  esteemed  the  cause  of 
Christ  paramount  to  every  other  interest?  And  if  this 
cause  be  paramount  to  all  others,  then  how  can  it  be  that 
this  chiefest  thino;  in  the  heart  should  call  forth  no  service 
in  the  life  ?  "  He  that  loveth  me,"  says  the  Master, 
"  keepeth  my  commandments,"  You  love  your  husband, 
wife,  father,  child,  and  it  is  esteemed  no  hardship  to  deny 
yourself  that  you  may  minister  to  their  wishes.  You  are 
bound  to  others  by  the  endearing  ties  of  friendship,  and  if 
their  reputation,  health  or  prosperity  be  endangered,  you 
cheerfully  render  what  relief  may  lie  within  your  power. 
How  comes  it,  then,  that  if  you  supremely  love  the  cause 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  137 


of  your  Lord  and  Master,  you  should  not  be  ready  also  for 
him  to  sacrifice  ease,  comfort,  property,  or  whatever  else 
may  be  requisite  in  order  to  obey  his  will,  defend  his 
honour,  and  promote  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom  in 
the  world  ?  According  to  the  immutable  laws  of  your  na- 
ture, then  either  the  espousal  of  Christ  cannot  be  sincere, 
or  your  feet  will  be  ready  to  do  his  will.  The  very  spirit 
and  nature  of  the  service  involves  the  putting  on  of  the 
sandals. 

A  diligent  and  energetic  engagedness  in  doing  the  will 
of  the  Master  is  also  matter  of  express  command.  So  im- 
portant a  duty  as  this  is  not  left  for  the  soldier  to  discover 
by  the  deductions  of  philosophy.  He  whose  word  the 
militant  hosts  may  not  refuse  to  regard,  has  issued  the  man- 
date to  every  individual  follower — "  Go  work  to-day" — 
"  Whatever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might" 
— "  Be  diligent  in  business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the 
Lord" — "Work  while  it  is  called  to-day,  for  the  night 
Cometh  when  no  man  can  work" — "  Fight  the  good  fight 
of  fiiith,  lay  hold  on  eternal  life" — "Why  stand  ye  here 
all  the  day  idle  ?"  Nor  is  his  displeasure  with  those  who 
neglect  to  do  his  will  concealed.  In  the  view  given 
by  the  inspired  penman  of  the  judgment  scene  at  the  last 

day,  the  hapless  culprit  stands  before  the  bar  condemned  on 

12* 


138  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


an  indictment  for  not  doing  the  will  of  his  Master, — "  In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  not ;"  and  "  Cast  ye  the  unprofitable 
servant  into  outer  darkness,"  is  the  appalling  fiat  which 
the  dread  tribunal  at  last  issues  in  regard  to  him  w^ho  has 
had  no  readiness  for  service  in  the  spiritual  kingdom. 

Now,  you  could  not  for  a  moment  imagine  that  these 
explicit  orders  from  Him,  w^hose  soldier  you  profess  to  be, 
could  pass  unheeded,  unless  under  the  certainty  of  incurring 
the  divine  displeasure,  and  forfeiting  your  character  for 
faithfulness  in  the  spiritual  calling.  Disobedience  to  orders 
is  no  trivial  offence  in  martial  life.  He  who  neglects  to 
carry  out  the  commands  of  his  superior  may  look  for  the 
court-martial,  the  arrest,  and  the  cashiering ;  and  happy 
may  he  count  himself  if  he  escape  the  law's  utmost  penalty 
— the  deadly  death-shot. 

And  think  you  this  greatest  of  all  captains,  the  Captain 
of  Israel's  spiritual  hosts,  can  suffer  a  wilful  and  deliberate 
trampling  under  foot  of  his  divine  orders  ?  Can  he,  with- 
out sore  displeasure,  look  upon  the  idler  in  the  camp,  the 
loiterer  in  the  ranks,  the  man  who,  though  w^earing  the  ves- 
ture outwardly  of  a  soldier,  has  none  of  the  soldier's  brave, 
sturdy  heart,  nor  his  readiness  to  endure  the  hardships  of 
the  march  ?  Can  he,  with  honour  to  himself,  or  with  safety 
to  the  well-ordering  of  the  army,  permit  this  open  and  fla- 


THE     SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  139 


grant  dereliction  of  duty  ?  Rely  upon  it,  reader,  if  you 
have  taken  upon  yourself  the  soldier's  name,  and  desire  not 
the  displeasure  of  your  Master,  you  must  take  heed  to  his 
orders  ;  and  by  working  while  the  day  of  life  lasts,  showing 
diligence  in  business,  and  fervency  of  spirit  in  the  service  of 
the  Lord,  evince  that  you  are  neither  barren  nor  unfruitful, 
that  you  are  not  a  loiterer,  or  a  rebel,  but  a  free  and  willing 
servant, — that  your  feet  are  shod  with  the  sandals  of  the 
gospel. 

And  to  this  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  the  Master, 
are  you  also  urged  by  the  examples  both  of  himself 
and  of  his  faithful  followers.  As  one  of  the  features 
of  the  incarnation,  our  glorious  leader  became  subject  to 
the  same  behests  w^hich  come  to  us, — he  "  was  made  under 
the  law."  Having  assumed  our  place,  he  admitted  the 
obligation  to  render  an  obedience  in  our  behalf, — so  that 
there  is  no  service  to  which  we  are  called,  which,  in  sub- 
stance, the  Master  himself  has  not  already  performed  ;  and 
just  as  the  common  soldier,  remarkable  for  his  fidelity  and 
for  all  the  highest  qualities  of  his  calling,  when  he  afterwards 
rises  to  be  the  chief  commander,  still  leaves  in  his  life  of 
obedience  as  a  common  soldier,  a  lesson  and  a  pattern  to 
others, — so  has  this  now  glorified  leader  of  the  hosts,  who 
holds  in  his  right  hand  the  stars  and  treads  under  his  feet 


140     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


the  clouds,  left  in  the  example  of  his  humble,  faithful, 
fearless  obedience,  a  lesson  and  a  pattern  to  all  who  profess 
to  come  after  him.  "  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business," 
was  the  language  which  fell  from  his  lips  in  boyhood,  and 
"  I  have  finished  the  work  thou  gavest  me  to  do,"  was  the 
language  of  the  expiring  hours  of  his  soon  to  be  extin- 
guished manhood.  Between  that  boyhood's  purpose  and 
that  manhood's  announcement  of  a  work  accomplished, 
were  crowded  days  of  temptation,  weariness,  care,  labour, 
reviling, — long  nights  of  prayer  and  tears,  three  years  of 
unceasing  tumult  and  persecution,  and  the  enduring  in 
advance  of  the  last  acts  of  the  great  tragedy  which  awaited 
him.  Incarnate  God  though  he  was,  he  did  not  throw  him- 
self upon  the  majesty  of  his  divine  nature,  leaving  far 
beneath  him  all  susceptibility  of  hardship  or  of  pain ;  but 
endured  the  shame,  struggled  on  amidst  toil  and  sorrow, 
and  thus  left  a  perpetual  example  to  all  who  might  profess 
to  be  his  followers,  as  to  how  they  ought  to  walk. 

Some  have  there  been,  as  we  rejoice  to  believe,  who 
have  been  ever  ready,  in  a  measure,  like  the  Master,  to  say, 
"  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business ;" — some  who, 
when  busied  at  the  receipt  of  custom,  or  mending  the 
nets  with  which  they  have  vainly  tried  to  fish  up  from  this 
world  wherewith  to  satisfy  the  soul, — have  been  willing,  at 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  141 


the  call  of  the  Master,  to  leave  the  custom-house,  the 
market-place,  and  the  mending  of  the  nets,  and  follow  the 
footsteps  divine,  even  though  these  might  lead  to  conflict, 
toil,  and  sorrow, — to  bonds,  imprisonment,  and  death.  Some 
there  have  been  whose  feet  seemed  never  weary,  day  nor 
night,  in  bearing  abroad  the  banner  of  the  cross,  in  calling 
for  recruits,  making  onsets  upon  the  ramparts  of  the  devil, 
and  pushing  forward  the  triumphs  of  salvation. 

Hear  the  great  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  as  he  recounts 
some  of  the  events  of  his  own  spiritual  warfare  : — "  Of  the 
Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one.  Thrice 
was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suffered 
shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep ;  in 
journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils  of  robbers, 
in  perils  by  mine  own  countrymen,  in  perils  by  the  heathen, 
in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in 
the  sea,  in  perils  among  false  brethren ;  in  weariness  and 
painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fast- 
ings often,  in  cold  and  nakedness.  Besides  those  things 
that  are  without,  that  which  cometh  upon  me  daily,  the 
care  of  all  the  churches." 

Turn  then,  reader,  from  this  amazing  catalogue  of 
human  exposure,  peril,  and  endurance,  and  see  others 
whose  record  is  not  written  with  the  pen  of  inspiration ; 


142  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


see  humble,  faithful  saints  serving  God  amidst  the  fiery 
storms  of  the  ten  great  persecutions  which  fell  upon 
the  youthful  Christian  church, — serving  the  Master  until 
that  service  was  brought  to  a  sudden  end,  that  their  poor 
bodies  might  be  sawn  asunder,  thrown  to  wild  beasts, 
or  first  smeared  with  pitch,  then  set  on  fire  to  illuminate 
the  gardens  of  a  pagan  tyrant.  See,  also,  the  martyrs  of 
the  more  modern  days  of  the  church, — the  long  retinue 
from  the  humble  proto-martyr,  John  Rodgers,  up  to  the 
noble-blooded  and  noble-spirited  Earl  of  Argyle,  stead- 
fastly continuing  their  march  until  it  led  them  to  the  stake 
or  to  the  bloody  block.  See,  even  in  your  own  day,  what 
other  Christians  have  done,  and  are  doing, — the  faithful 
missionary  sent  by  the  great  chief  commander  to  some  dark 
and  desolate  shore  where  Satan  long  has  swayed  his  sceptre 
undisturbed,  there  to  throw  up  the  ramparts  of  the  gospel, 
and  storm  the  fortress  of  the  devil, — to  toil  there  alone,  to 
fight  there  alone,  to  die  there  alone.  Or  see  the  man  of  God, 
with  the  wife  of  his  youth,  going  far  into  western  forests,  and, 
amid  the  privations  of  wild-woods  pioneer  life,  preaching, 
praying,  toiling,  and  enduring,  that  the  glorious  gospel 
may  keep  pace  with  the  ever  swelling  human  tide  which 
sweeps  on  deeper  into  the  wilderness.  Or  see  the  humble 
and  almost  unknown  soldier  in  the  camp  at  home,  busy  in 


THE     SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  143 


teaching  the  children  of  the  household  the  ways  of  salva- 
tion, labouring  in  the  Sabbath-school,  going  into  the  lanes 
and  alleys  to  find  out  and  minister  to  the  poor,  shedding 
tears  with  the  afflicted,  and  offering  prayers  with  those 
who  are  seeking  the  way  to  the  cross. 

Are  there  not  here,  then,  feet  shod  with  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  gospel, — from  the  Master  down  to  the 
humble  labourer  of  the  lanes  and  the  Sabbath-school? 
Tell  me  also  if  this  cause  in  which  they  have  so  toiled 
and  suffered  is  not  that  in  which  you  also  are  pro- 
fessedly enlisted  ?  Have  you  like  them  the  spirit  of 
deep,  undying  devotion, — of  ready  and  constant  service  ? 
Why  should  you  not  evince  the  same  devotion,  and  show 
the  same  obedience  ? 

"  Must  you  be  carried  to  the  skies 
On  flowery  beds  of  ease, 
While  others  fight  to  win  the  prize, 
And  sail  through  bloody  seas  ?" 

O  ye  lounging,  loitering  soldiers,  awake  from  your 
slumbers !  why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle  ?  Let  the 
spectacle  of  what  others  of  like  passions,  difficulties,  and 
trials  with  yourself  have  done  and  endured,  inspire  your 
heart  with  desires  to  imitate  their  examj^le ;  and  especially 


144     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


let  the  spectacle  of  the  labours  and  services  of  your  glo- 
rious leader  stimulate  you  to  greater  diligence  and  zeal. 
Be  followers  of  them  who,  through  faith  and  patience,  have 
inherited  the  promises,  and  you  will  then  like  them  have 
trodden  an  ever  onward  march,  shod  with  the  sandals  of  the 
gospel. 


THE    SANDALS    OF    SERVICE.  145 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE. 

"  And  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace." 

From  what   has   been  already  stated,   it  is   obvious  that 

without  a  disposition  to  do  the  will  of  God  you  can  have 

no    satisfactory    evidence    that    you    are   engaged   in   the 

Christian  warfare.     "By  their  fruits,"  says  Christ,  "shall 

ye  know  them ;"  and  the  fruits  of  a  sincere  devotion,  as  you 

have  seen,  must  be  a  life  of  obedience,  as  well  as  a  heart 

in  unison  with  that  of  the  Master.     If  you  are  a  soldier  in 

the  armies  of  salvation,  your  spirit  will  accord  with  that 

of  him  whose  footsteps  you  profess  to  follow^ ;  his  will   wull 

be  yours ;  his  cause  will  be  your  cause ;    with  his  designs 

for  the  welfare  of  mankind,  the  upbuilding  of  his  kingdom, 

and  the  glory  of  his  name,  you  will  be  thorougKly  identic e^, 

13 


146  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


SO  that  when  there  is  work  to  be  done  you  will  not  be 
reluctant  to  stand  in  your  place  and  bear  your  part. 

Without  such  a  oneness  with  the  Master  and  the  cause, 
it  is  vain  for  you  to  call  yourself  a  Christian.  In  what 
does  your  religion  consist  ?  In  an  outwardly  correct 
deportment  ?  in  an  attendance  on  the  services  of  the  sanc- 
tuary on  the  Sabbath  ?  in  an  occasional  subscription  or  petty 
contribution  to  objects  of  benevolence  ?  Do  not  even  the 
publicans  and  sinners  the  same  ?  How  many  who  make  no 
profession  such  as  yours  are  quite  as  correct  in  their  morals, 
as  regularly  in  the  house  of  God,  and  as  liberal  to  objects 
of  benevolence  as  yourself.  Wherein,  then,  are  ye  better 
than  they  ?  Or  does  your  religion  also  include  the  form 
of  prayer  in  the  closet  and  the  family,  the  occasional  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  sitting  down  at  the  Lord's 
table  ?  Do  not  even  the  hypocrites  the  same  ?  In  observ- 
ances similar  to  these,  and  far  more  numerous  and  burden- 
some, the  Pharisees  far  exceeded  you,  and  yet  the  Saviour 
has  declared  that  "  except  your  righteousness  exceed  the 
righteousness  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in  no  case 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  "If  any  man  serve  me," 
says  the  same  divine  authority,  "let  him  follow  me ;"  and 
if  in  an  humble,  faithful,  constant  study  to  do  the  Father's 
will,  you  are  not  following  this  great  exemplar,  I  ask  again. 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  147 


wherein  consists  your  piety  ?  What  would  be  thought  of 
that  man  enlisted  in  an  army  raised  especially  for  actual 
warfore,  who,  whilst  the  trumpet  was  sounding,  and  his 
fellow-soldiers  were  taking  their  places  in  the  ranks,  or 
striving  hard  amidst  the  storm  of  battle,  should  remain  all  '^ 
the  while  in  his  tent,  heedless  of  the  trumpet's  clang,  or  of 
the  speedy  response  to  it  of  his  fellow-soldiers,  and  of  the 
trying  times  when  it  was  expected  of  every  man  to  be  found 
at  his  post  ?  If  the  entire  army  were  made  up  of  such 
material, where  would  be  its  conflicts  and  its  victories, — its 
services  to  the  cause  for  which  it  was  enlisted, — its  aggres- 
sions upon  the  enemy's  country  ?  Rely  upon  it,  reader, 
if,  when  the  call  to  arms  is  always  ringing  in  your  ears, 
when  your  fellow-Christians  are  girding  on  their  panoply 
afresh,  and  doing  battle  valiantly  against  the  hosts  of 
darkness,  you  are  not  also  at  your  post, — whatever  may  be 
your  outward  garb  of  soldiership,  or  the  name  you  bear, 
or  your  profession  of  enlistment, — in  the  essential  elements 
which  make  up  the  soldier  you  are  found  wanting.  You 
are  not  shod  with  the  sandals  of  the  gospel. 

The  extent  and  importance  of  the  work  to  be  done, 
also,  shows  the  necessity  of  wearing  the  gospel  sandals. 
Mighty  as  have  been  the  purposes  and  achievements  of 
other  armies,  there  are  none  which,  in  the  magnitude  of  the 


i 


148  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


interests  involved,  the  extent  of  the  territory  over  which 
the  work  is  spread,  the  lasting  consequences  which  may- 
ensue,  and  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  will  at  all 
compare  with  that  for  which  the  Captain  of  salvation  has 
mustered  his  militant  hosts.  The  end  to  be  obtained  in 
general  is  the  victory  of  the  world ;  but  a  victory  of  the 
world  far  higher  and  more  important  than  Alexander  or 
Caesar  ever  knew.  As  regards  things  temporal  merely, 
the  triumphs  of  the  armies  of  light  are  the  triumphs 
of  civilization  over  barbarism,  of  natural  affection  over 
inhumanity,  of  liberty  over  despotism,  of  intelligence  over 
superstition  and  ignorance, — for  "godliness  is  profitable  for 
all  things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,"  as  well 
as  "  of  that  which  is  to  come." 

It  has  been  said  that  wherever  the  Anglo-Saxon  has 
planted  his  foot,  he  has  there  also  planted  the  elements  of 
light,  liberty,  industry  and  prosperity ;  but  the  gospel  has 
made  the  Anglo-Saxon  what  he  is ;  and  where  the  gospel 
plants  its  standard,  there  also  are  found  these  and  all  other 
blessings  which  make  human  pursuits,  family  ties,  and  social 
and  civil  relations,  things  to  be  desired.  So  that  if  the 
success  of  Christ's  cause  in  the  world  involved  nothing 
beyond  the  bounds  of  time,  this  should  be  reason  enough 
for  all  the  service  of  every  soldier  enlisted  in  Christ's  cause 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  149 


— that  he  should  know  that  the  triumphs  of  this  kingdom 
were  the  triumphs  of  all  that  is  dear  to  our  common 
humanity. 

But  well  do  you  know,  that  glorious  as  would  be  a  cru- 
sade whose  onward  march  should  thus  be  attended  with  the 
uplifting  of  fallen  humanity,  the  breaking  of  fetters,  and  the 
disenthralment  of  our  race ;  this, — glorious  though  it  would 
be, — would  be  trifling  compared  with  the  immeasurably 
greater  achievements  which  attend  the  successful  progress  of 
the  armies  of  Zion.  The  gospel  regards  man  chiefly  as  spirit- 
ual and  immortal.  It  looks  upon  him  as  in  a  state  of  aliena- 
tion from  God,  of  bondage  to  sin  and  Satan ;  as  a  prisoner 
walking  in  chains  to  the  gloomy  realms  of  unending  sorrow 
and  despair ;  and  to  secure  his  release  from  captivity,  his 
rescue  from  an  immortality  so  appalling,  his  restoration  to 
son-ship  in  the  family  divine,  his  eternal  partnership  in  the 
dwelling-place  of  God — it  is  at  this  holiest,  highest  of  all 
achievements  that  the  gospel  aims.  For  a  conquest  of  the 
world  such  as  this  it  is  that  our  great  leader  has  enlisted 
recruits,  marshaled  them  under  strict  discipline,  required  of 
them  hard  service,  and  gone  himself  in  advance  all  through 
the  storm  of  battle  and  the  pains  of  the  death-struggle. 

"  The  world  lieth  in  wickedness"  is  a  truth  of  awful  im- 
port— a  truth  which  should  possess  the  heart  of  every  true 

13* 


150     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


follower  of  Christ,  and  fire  his  zeal  to  deeds  of  daring. 
If  the  fact  that  infidel  feet  were  treading  the  soil  which  had 
heen   hallowed  by  the   footsteps  of  the  Saviour  and  his 
apostles,  once  awoke  the  energies  of  slumbering  nations, 
until  man,  woman  and  child,  under  one  great  common  im- 
pulse, bade  farewell  to  home  and  country,  and  marched  in 
millions  through  hunger,  thirst,  flood,  pestilence,  and  the 
whetted  swords  of  resistant  foes,  for  the  rescue  of  the  land 
of  the  cross ;  how  think  you  should  the  fact  that  this  wide 
world,  which  has  been  promised  to  the  Saviour  for  his  in- 
heritance, has  long  been  and  is  now  under  the  rule  of  his 
bitterest  foe,  so  that  the  world  still  lies  in  wickedness, — how- 
should  an  appeal  such  as  this  arouse  the  dormant  energies 
of  the  militant  church,  and  call  every  man  to  his  post  with 
the  spirit  to  endure  all  hardships  and  sufferings,  if  need 
be,  for  its  rescue  from  the  sw^ay  of  the  prince  of  darkness, 
for  its  restoration  to  him  to  whom  it  of  right  belongs  ?     O 
soldier  of  the  cross  I  if  there  be  not  in  your  bosom  a  heart 
which  can  be  stirred  to  holy  indignation,  to  quenchless  zeal, 
to  tireless  labours,  to  deeds  of  daring,  by  a  spectacle  such 
as  this,  you  are  strangely  devoid  of  those  sensibilities  which 
your  high  calling  demands.     How  long   shall  the  enemy 
triumph  ?    How  long  shall  whole  nations  of  mankind  dwell 
under  the  night  of  the  shadow  of  death  ?     How  long  shall 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  151 


millions  continue  in  their  thraldom  without  ever  having 
heard  of  the  way  of  deliverance  ?  How  long,  even  in  those 
lands  nominally  possessed,  shall  the  kingdom  of  Christ  still 
but  barely  maintain  its  acquired  strength,  and  the  powers 
of  darkness  remain  fortified  in  their  strono-holds  ?  How 
long  shall  the  strong  men  continue  to  perish  within  sight 
of  the  cross,  and  the  children  rise  up  to  fill  the  broken 
ranks  of  their  fathers,  but  to  follow  their  footsteps,  and 
finally  share  their  ruin? 

Surely  it  is  time  the  church  were  attempting  greater 
things  for  her  glorious  Lord.  It  is  time  that  all  who  name 
the  name  of  Jesus  were  up  and  doing  for  his  cause.  Surely 
it  is  time  that  every  soldier  should  be  ever  ready  for  the 
call  to  duty ;  that  he  should  be  thoroughly  shod  with  the 
preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

Let  me,  however,  urge  another  and  a  kindred  considera- 
tion why  you  should  be  shod  with  the  sandals  of  service, 
from  the  fact  that  whilst  there  is  so  much  to  be  done, 
there  are  so  few  to  do  the  w'ork.  The  army  of  salvation 
has  always  been  a  "  little  flock."  Many  have  been  called 
to  enlist  under  the  banners  of  the  cross,  but  few  have  been 
chosen.  The  vast  proportion  of  mankind  have  always  been 
arrayed  with  the  prince  of  darkness.  When  your  leader 
was  on  earth  himself,  and  with  his  mild  and  gentle  voice 


152  THE    SOLDIER    OP    THE    CROSS, 


calling  for  recruits,  how  small  the  number  who  stood  forth 
to  do  his  bidding !  In  the  centuries  that  have  since  swept 
on,  how  often  have  the  militant  forces  been  but  as  scattered 
sheep,  trodden  down  by  oppression,  driven  into  the  wilder- 
ness,— their  name,  their  cause,  and  their  Master  alike 
unhonoured  and  despised.  And  now  that  eighteen  hundred 
years  have  passed,  and  all  the  while  the  battle  has  been 
waging,  and  the  call  for  recruits  has  been  sounding,  still  how 
little  is  the  flock  compared  with  what  it  should  be,  com- 
pared with  the  mighty  hosts  to  which  it  is  opposed,  com- 
pared with  the  great  work  which  as  at  first  still  remains  to 
be  done.  One  from  a  family,  a  few  from  a  neighbourhood, 
some  hundreds  of  thousands  from  a  nation  of  millions,  what 
are  these  compared  with  what  the  mightiness  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  the  interests  to  be  secured,  demand  I 

Painful  it  is,  amidst  this  mighty  call,  to  witness  so  few 
coming  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty ;  but 
more  painful  still  to  witness  those  whose  profession  and 
enlistment  give  the  Master  a  right  to  claim  their  services, 
still  lingering  with  the  opposing  world,  letting  their  armour 
rust  for  want  of  use,  and  laying  aside  their  sandals  because 
they  have  no  errands  of  danger  to  render  them  necessary. 
If,  when  your  country  is  invaded,  and  the  foreign  foe  is 
treading  your  soil,  garrisoned  in  your  cities,  laying  waste 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  153 


your  agriculture  and  commerce,  and  burning  the  houses 
over  the  affrighted  heads  of  your  helpless  wives  and  chil- 
dren, you  should  be  called  traitor  and  coward,  because  you 
girded  not  on  your  sword,  and  stood  not  up  for  your  country 
and  your  fireside, — by  what  epithet  shall  you  be  called 
if,  when  this  foe  to  your  race,  to  your  own  soul,  to  the 
church  of  God,  and  to  your  espoused  Lord  is  planting 
his  deadly  footsteps  everywhere,  withering  the  heart's  joys, 
blasting  the  hopes,  and  sweeping  into  relentless  ruin  undying 
souls,  you  are  still  found  folding  your  hands  to  sleep, 
praying  to  be  excused,  and  devolving  on  others  the  service 
which  belongs  to  yourself, — if,  when  there  are  so  few  to 
stand  up  against  the  too  successful  foe,  you,  who  profess  to 
be  one  of  the  few,  should  have  deserted  your  place  in  the 
ranks !  Arise,  Christian,  from  this  scene  of  indifference 
and  inaction,  seek  the  field  of  battle  and  strike  for  your 
glorious  leader's  cause,  and  for  the  souls  of  men ; — put  on 
the  gospel  sandals  and  be  ready  for  every  good  word  and 
work. 

This  duty  of  putting  on  the  sandals,  is  urged  further  by 
the  great  number  and  variety  of  departments  in  which  we 
may  do  service  for  our  Lord  and  Master.  Some  there 
may  be,  indeed,  amongst  the  professed  soldiery  who  will 
be  ever  framing  excuses  for  a  life  of  indolence  and  ease  ; 


154     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


who  will  always  be  willing  to  see  others  do  the  work  and 
brave  the  danger,  whilst  they  stand  all  the  day  idle,  under 
the  old  plea,  that  as  for  them,  they  have  no  "  turn"  for 
doing  such  work  as  this.  If  you  have  "no  turn"  for 
such  service,  why  then  did  you  ostensibly  enlist  beneath 
Christ's  banner,  assume  his  name,  and  profess  to  be  among 
his  soldiery?  What,  I  ask,  would  you  think  of  that 
soldier  who,  when  the  troops  were  marched  to  battle, 
would  sit  quietly  in  his  tent,  not  stirring  a  foot  or  lifting 
a  hand,  in  the  hour  which  called  for  every  man  to  be  at  his 
post,  under  the  plea  that  as  for  him  he  had  no  turn  for 
marching  or  for  fighting  ?  Was  it  not  the  very  object  for 
which  he  was  enlisted,  that  he  might  do  this  service  for 
which  he  pleads  he  has  "  no  turn  ?" 

Rely  upon  it,  reader,  excuses  such  as  this  will  not 
avail.  You  may  not  be  gifted  with  those  talents  which 
will  qualify  you  for  the  more  prominent  places  among 
the  militant  hosts.  You  may  not  have  the  requisite 
attainments,  nor  the  power  of  utterance  to  fit  you  to 
stand  up  as  a  preacher  of  the  cross,  but  in  some  humbler 
sphere  there  is  a  place  where  you  may  do  your  work 
just  as  eflSciently  as  if  with  lips  of  eloquence  you  were 
pleading  with  listening  auditors  to  lay  down  their  weapons 
of  rebellion   and   join    the   service    of  the    Saviour ; — that 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  155 


place  too,  if  you  have  the  right  spirit,  you  will  not  fail  to 
find. 

May  you  not  bear  some  minor  office  in  the  ranks,  and, 
ruling  in  the  house  of  God,  or  serving  tables,  efficiently  aid 
the  common  cause  ?  Or  may  you  not  go  out  amongst 
those  who  visit  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  who  minister 
to  the  sick,  or  with  kind  words  comfort  the  mourner  amidst 
his  sorrows  ?  "  Sisters  of  Charity,"  so-called,  there  are  in 
the  service  of  "  the  man  of  sin,"  who  do  much  of  this  work 
of  mercy,  and  whose  diligence  and  watchings  tend  to  win 
many  to  their  favour ;  and  though  we  may  not,  and  should 
not,  have  these  organized  sisterhoods,  W'hy  should  we  not  at 
least  strive  with  equal  ardour  in  such  labours  of  love,  and 
show  what  a  purer  faith  can  do,  by  all  of  us  becoming  a 
band  of  brothers  and  sisters  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  the 
destitute,  sick,  and  sorrowing?  Or,  may  you  not  serve 
your  Master  by  instructing  the  youth  assembled  in  the 
Sabbath-school,  striving  thus  to  bend  the  twig  before  it 
has  become  a  tree,  and  to  raise  up  a  generation  which  shall 
better  know  and  serve  the  Lord  than  those  who  have  gone 
before  them  ?  Can  you  not  be  in  your  place  in  the  prayer- 
meeting,  encouraging  others  by  your  presence,  and  with 
them  imploring  the  grace  so  much  needed  for  all  ?  Can 
you  not  in  your  business  so  serve  God,  as  that  a  large 


156     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS 


portion  of  its  gains  shall  be  set  apart  for  his  kingdom? 
Can  you  not  at  least  so  humbly,  constantly,  and  consistently 
maintain  a  holy  life,  that  your  very  example  shall  be  a 
powerful  instrument  for  good  ?  If  not  in  one  way,  in 
another  then  you  can  find  some  means  of  doing  the  will  of 
him  who  has  called  you ;  and  whilst  there  are  wide  open  so 
many  avenues  of  usefulness,  you  can  have  no  excuse  for  not 
using  always  the  gospel*sandals. 

One  other  argument  shall  we  adduce  to  urge  you  to  a  readi- 
ness to  every  good  word  and  work,  and  this  is,  the  blessed 
results  of  such  employments  to  yourself  personally.  You 
have  heard  of  the  luxury  of  doing  good,  if  you  have  not 
been  a  partaker  of  this  bliss.  A  luxury,  indeed,  there  is 
in  ministering  to  the  wants,  temporal  and  spiritual,  of  our 
fellow-men, — a  luxury  purer  and  more  divine  than  any 
earth  can  give, — a  luxury  which  none  but  he  who  feels  it 
knows.  The  ways  the  Christian  soldier  treads,  although 
in  one  sense  dark  and  thorny,  in  another  are  "  ways  of 
pleasantness  and  peace."  "  He  that  watereth  shall  him- 
self be  watered,"  is  a  truth  to  whose  verity  there  have 
been  many  witnesses.  It  is  an  appointment  of  God,  that  if 
any  man  leave  father,  mother,  houses,  or  lands,  for  his  sake, 
he  shall  have  an  hundred-fold  even  in  this  world.  He  shall- 
experience  an  approval  of  conscience,  an  inward  peace,  a 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  157 


sense  of  the  favour  of  God,  which  will  open  up  to  him  foun- 
tains of  refreshment  far  purer  and  sweeter  than  can  be  found 
in  the  stagnant  pools  of  this  desert  world. 

Then,  when  the  faithful  soldier  approaches  the  closing 
scenes  of  his  warfare,  is  there  nothing  to  be  desired  in  that 
retrospect  which  is  furnished  by  a  life  spent  in  doing  good? 
When  treading  the  shores  of  that  "  vast  ocean  he  must 
sail  so  soon,"  how  full  of  consolation  the  thought  that  by 
the  grace  which  has  been  given  him,  his  sojourn  upon 
earth  has  not  been  altogether  in  vain ;  that  he  has 
at  least  done  something  for  the  cause  of  him  who  called 
him  from  darkness  to  light,  and  in  whose  presence  he  must 
appear  so  soon, — that  he  has  done  something  for  the 
welfare  of  those  immortal  spirits  he  is  ere  long  to  meet 
again  before  the  judgment  bar,  and  in  the  eternal  world. 
Who  has  not  been  constrained  to  say,  as  he  has  stood  by 
the  bedside  of  the  expiring  Christian  soldier,  "  Let  me  die 
the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his?" 

And  when  the  conflict  is  at  last  ended,  and  the  work  done, 
how  rich  the  rewards  of  grace  within  the  veil !  "  As  a 
man  soweth,  so  also  shall  he  reap."  Having  sown  bounti- 
fully, how  glorious  shall  be  the  harvest  of  the  faithful, 
when  their  sheaves  shall  be  gathered  to  the  garners  above. 

"  And  I  heard  a  voice  saying  unto  me,  write,  Blessed  are 

14 


158     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth  ;  yea,  saith 
the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labours,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them."  Their  works  do  follow  them ! 
When  the  warrior  has  laid  aside  his  armour,  his  works  on 
the  battle-field  are  still  living.  What  he  has  accomplished 
survives  his  departure,  and  still  does  the  work  of  his  Master ; 
and  these  works  in  due  season  and  from  time  to  time  follow 
him  whither  he  has  gone,  to  enrich  his  reward  and  shine  in 
his  heavenly  crown.  O  reader !  would  you  have  a  starless 
crown  ?  or  would  you  not  rather  choose  one  which  shall 
be  jewelled  with  such  gems  as  will  outvie  the  sun  in  lustre, 
and  shine  for  ever  on  when  the  sun  shall  shed  his  rays  no 
more  ?  With  considerations  such  as  these  we  close  the 
catalogue  of  arguments  for  being  shod  with  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  gospel. 

In  conclusion,  you  will  observe,  that  though  the  girding 
on  of  these  sandals  may  have  a  hostile  aspect,  yet  the 
object  for  which  the  Christian  soldier  is  shod,  is  actually 
peaceful.  The  material  of  his  sandals  is  the  gospel  of 
"peace." 

True,  indeed,  peace  may  not  be  in  every  respect  the 
immediate  effect  of  his  spiritual  campaigns ;  for  no  sooner 
does  he  gird  on  his  armour,  than  this  very  circumstance 
excites  against  him    the   hostility   of  those  who   are  yet 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  159 


under  the  banner  of  the  prince  of  darkness.  Hence,  saith 
Christ,  "  I  am  not  come  to  send  peace,  but  a  sword  ;  for  I 
am  come  to  set  a  man  at  variance  against  his  father,  and 
the  daughter  against  her  mother,  and  the  daughter-in-law 
against  her  mother-in-law ;  and  a  man's  foes  shall  be  they 
of  his  own  household."  "If  ye  were  of  the  world,  the 
world  would  love  its  own ;  but  because  ye  are  not  of  the 
world,  but  I  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  world,  therefore 
the  world  hateth  you." 

But  notwithstanding  all  this,  it  is  true  that  the  gospel- 
shod  w^^rrior  does,  by  the  grace  of  God,  in  many  respects 
"  conquer  a  peace."  As  his  warfore  is  eminently  and  prima- 
rily against  the  evils  which  lie  within  himself,  so  it  is 
wdthin  himself  that  a  large  portion  of  these  peaceful  spoils 
are  won.  Envy,  hatred,  pride,  covetousness,  and  lust,  are 
enemies  which  have  their  residence  within  the  caverns  of 
his  own  soul ;  and  as  long  as  they  are  enabled  to  come  forth 
in  their  strength,  and  walk  harmless  on  that  field,  so  long 
will  genuine  peace  be  a  stranger  to  his  bosom.  But  when, 
by  God's  grace,  he  has  marched  forth  against  them,  and 
met  them  undismayed,  he  is  enabled  to  drive  them  from 
their  positions,  and  perhaps  to  set  his  iron-shod  feet  upon 
them;  and  as  the  warfare  is  continued,  they  grow  weaker, 
until  at  last  he  has  gotten  them  under  his  dominion ;  and 


160     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


these  disturbers  of  his  quiet  being  subdued,  his  soul  enjoys 
I  spiritual  tranquillity.  Anger,  pride,  envy,  lust,  and  covet- 
ousness  being  bound  in  chains,  they  cannot  now  so  much 
disturb  the  warrior's  bosom.  And  as  in  all  this  warfare  he 
has  shown  a  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God,  so  conscience 
is  satisfied,  and  her  approval  contributes  to  his  peace;  and 
as  all  his  strength  is  stayed  on  the  meritorious  intervention 
of  the  Captain  of  Salvation  in  his  behalf,  so  also  he  has 
peace  with  God. 

Then,  as  regards  the  world  at  large,  the  tendency  of  his 
warfare  is  pacific ;  for  just  in  proportion  as  the  cause  in 
w^hich  he  is  enlisted  advances  successfully,  just  so  also  are 
implanted  and  established  principles  of  righteousness,  for- 
bearance under  injuries,  and  readiness  to  do  good  to  all, 
which,  if  universally  adopted,  would  bring  about  a  reign 
of  peace  throughout  the  whole  family  of  man.  Brother 
should  no  more  be  arrayed  against  brother,  and  the  nations 
should  learn  war  no  more.  So  that,  though  his  front  may 
wear  a  hostile  aspect  and  though  his  feet  are  ever  heavily 
mailed  for  battle,  yet  in  the  end  it  will  appear  that  he  has 
been  shod  with  the  preparation  of  a  peaceful  gospel. 

Just  in  proportion,  too,  as  the  army  of  salvation  fills  up, 
and  its  conquests  are  extended,  just  in  that  proportion  will 
that  which,  in  its  main  tendency,  is  so  eminently  pacific 


THE     SANDALS    OF     SERVICE.  161 


towards  mankind,  prevail ;  until  at  last,  when  the  Christian 
soldiery  have  set  their  feet  on  every  shore,  and  amongst 
every  people  there  have  been  reared  the  strong  spiritual  fort- 
resses of  the  gospel,  Satan  and  his  allies  shall  have  been 
driven  back  foot  by  foot,  until  they  have  been  banished  to 
their  own  realms  of  night,  to  be  confined  in  chains  for  a 
thousand  years ; — and  as  through  all  the  wide  circuit  of 
the  earth,  the  armies  of  salvation  shall  stand  without 
any  other  foe  than  death  to  conquer,  the  whole  world 
shall  be  filled  with  heavenly  peace. 

Now,  as  we  have  heretofore  urged  upon  you  the  import- 
ance of  buckling  on  the  girdle  of  truth,  and  the  breastplate 
of  righteousness,  let  me  ask  you  if  you  will  not  add  to 
these  pieces  of  panoply,  also  the  spiritual  sandals?  Will 
you  not  have  your  feet  shod  with  the  peaceful  preparation 
of  the  gospel,  and  thus  be  made  ready  for  every  good 
word  and  work  ?  Have  you  no  desire  to  enter  the  field  for 
your  glorious  leader,  and  to  walk  there  in  the  certainty  of 
ultimate  safety  and  final  triumph  ? 

Never  was  there  a  time  when  ready,  willing  feet  were 

more    needed    in    the    church ;    never   a   time   when    the 

indolent    and    inefficient    could    be    less    acceptable.      In 

this  age   of  action,  with  such   multiplied  means  of  doing 

efliicient  service  for  the  Captain  of  Salvation  made  ready 

14* 


162  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CEOSS 


to  your  hands,  will  you  still  be  a  mere  hanger-on  of 
the  camp,  although  professing  to  belong  to  its  soldiery  ? 
Will  you  stand  idly  by  and  be  a  mere  spectator  of 
those  whose  willing  feet  are  bearing  them  into  every  field 
of  toil  and  conflict  ?  or  will  you  not  rather  seek  afresh  to 
be  shod  with  the  gospel  sandals,  and  as  you  hope  to  enjoy 
the  spoils  of  victory,  be  ready  also  to  partake  of  the  hard- 
ships and  the  dangers  of  the  warfare  ? 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  163 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE     SHIELD     OF    FAITH. 

"  Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to 
quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked." 

That  piece  of  the  panoply  now  brought  to  view  is  of 
special  importance,  as  the  apostle's  language  would  seem 
to  designate.  "Above  all"  the  shield  must  be  secured, 
whatever  other  part  might  be  neglected.  Not  that  the 
apostle  means  in  any  manner  to  disparage  other  portions 
of  the  panoply.  Each  piece  of  armour  is  not  only  possessed 
of  peculiar  qualities  for  its  own  appropriate  place,  but  all 
are  necessary  in  order  to  the  completeness  of  the  whole. 

Still,  though  the  girdle,  the  breastplate,  the  sandals,  the 
helmet,  and  the  sword,  may  neither  be  dispensed  with 
entirely,  nor  their  places  supplied  by  any  substitute  what- 
ever, some  one  piece  of  the  panoply  may  be  endowed  with 


164     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


a  pre-eminence  over  the  rest,  because  of  its  peculiar  relations 
to  all  of  them,  and  to  the  entire  Christian  man. 

Now,  it  is  this  position  we  understand  the  apostle  as 
assigning  to  the  shield  of  faith.  There  are  special  reasons 
for  its  pre-eminence,  which  lead  him  to  enjoin  it  upon 
the  soldier  of  the  cross,  "  above  all"  to  put  on  this  piece 
of  armour. 

For,  first,  faith  may  be  called  an  elementary  grace  of  the 
Christian  character.  It  is  that  act  of  the  mind  by  which 
we  are  enlisted  into  the  army  of  salvation.  "  He  that 
believeth  shall  be  saved."  Wanting  this  we  cannot  be 
accepted,  "for  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please 
God."  "  He  that  cometh  to  God,  must  believe  that  he  is, 
and  that  he  is  the  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek 
him."  The  sonship  in  the  spiritual  family  is  also  bestowed 
upon  them  that  believe.  Now,  if  by  faith  we  are  saved, 
we  please  God,  we  approach  him  with  acceptance,  we  are 
adopted  as  his  children,  we  need  not  wonder  at  the  language 
of  the  apostle  when  he  says,  "  Above  all,  taking  the  shield 
of  faith." 

Faith,  also,  must  be  taken  "  above  all,"  because  it 
affords  nutriment  and  strength  to  all  other  graces.  It  is 
the  connecting  link  between  the  soldier  and  his  divine  Mas- 
ter ;    it   is  the   bond   of  union  between  the  vine  and   the 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  165 


branches,  through  which  is  supplied  that  vital  influence  by 
■which  fruit  is  produced  and  matured.  Without  faith  we 
cannot  sincerely  and  cordially  espouse  the  cause  of  Christ, 
nor  lay  hold  on  his  righteousness,  nor  engage  diligently  in 
his  service,  nor  hope  for  spiritual  good  here  and  hereafter, 
nor  wield  the  sword  of  the  word  in  doing  battle  for  the 
kingdom.  These  graces,  too,  often  languish.  In  the  evil 
day  of  the  conflict,  wdien  temptation,  depression,  and  afflic- 
tion abound,  hope  sometimes  grows  dim,  the  feet  are  slow 
to  run  in  paths  of  obedience,  the  fruits  of  righteousness  are 
few,  and  but  feebly  is  the  sword  wielded  ;  the  evidence  of 
the  existence  of  these  graces  seems  almost  to  have  passed 
away.  Then  is  it  that  faith  must  again  enter  the  store- 
house of  the  Lord,  and,  taking  hold  afresh  of  the  promises, 
bring  out  the  material  by  which  the  strength  and  energy  of 
the  entire  man  is  to  be  revived.  As  a  ministering  spirit  to 
the  whole  family  of  which  she  is  a  member,  she  ever  stands 
ready  to  do  her  associates  service  by  furnishing  such  sup- 
plies of  grace  as  they  may  need.  "  He  that  believes,  out 
of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  waters."  The  man 
who  diligently  and  truly  exercises  this  grace  shall  have  that 
flow  and  increase  of  all  other  graces  which  is  here  called 
"  living  w^aters." 

Or  if  in  evil  days  of  despondency  the  evidences  of  his  adop- 


166  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE    CROSS. 


tion  have  departed  from  the  soul,  how  faith  brings  back 
the  glad  news  again  of  a  state  of  acceptance  with  Christ. 
When  the  power  of  temptation  has  been  strong,  and  the 
clouds  of  sin  have  shut  out  the  light  of  the  Saviour's  coun- 
tenance, and  the  poor,  desponding  saint  sits  down  and  asks 
himself.  Can  I  have  been  born  again  ?  am  I  entitled  to  be 
called  a  child  of  God  ?  is  it  possible  that  one  so  often  erring, 
doing  so  little  for  the  Saviour's  cause,  with  so  many  evil 
imaginations,  and  so  few  holy  aspirations,  can  be  numbered 
amonsst  those  whose  names  are  written  in  heaven? — then 
it  is  that  faith  comes  to  do  her  welcome  office,  showing  the 
disheartened  believer  that  though  his  sins  be  as  scarlet, 
they  can  be  made  white  as  snow;  that  though  they  be  red 
like  crimson,  they  can  be  made  white  like  wool, — that  if  he 
will  but  with  an  humble  spirit  approach  the  mercy-seat,  all 
shall  be  forgiven,  and  a  voice  divine  shall  w^hisper  to  his 
spirit,  "  Go  in  peace."  Then  wall  faith  betake  herself 
again  to  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises,  and  set 
them  in  such  array  in  all  their  fullness  and  freeness,  that  the 
believer  who  looks  upon  them  cannot  but  see  their  suitable- 
ness to  his  own  cause.  He  is  led  to  cry  out  even  from  the 
borders  of  despair,  "  Lord,  I  believe,  O  help  my  unbelief;" 
or  to  turn  upon  himself,  and  chiding  his  treacherous  spirit 
which  dares  to  despond  amidst  such  rich  promises  for  com- 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  167 


fort,  to  adopt  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  "Why  art  thou  cast 
down,  O  my  soul  ?  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me  ?  hope 
thou  in  God,  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him  who  is  the  health 
of  my  countenance  and  my  God." 

Faith  is  also  a  grace  which,  "  above  all,"  greatly  honours 
God.  It  is  that  which  leads  the  soul  to  forsake  every 
other  reliance,  and  rest  solely  upon  the  divine  arm  as  its 
helper.  It  separates  us  from  earthly  good,  it  removes  us 
from  the  broken  reeds  which  pierce  us,  it  perceives  the 
promise  afar  off,  and  when  there  is  no  evidence  of  its  fulfil- 
ment which  can  be  discerned  by  sense,  or  when  help  seems 
far  away,  and  the  odds  greatly  against  us,  leans  just  as 
firmly  upon  the  written  word,  and  believes  just  as  fully 
that  though  the  vision  may  tarry  it  will  yet  come,  that 
though  the  good  Samaritan  may  not  at  once  show  him- 
self, he  will  yet  appear,  as  if  the  vision  were  already 
revealed  in  its  accomplishment,  and  the  good  Samaritan 
were  just  beside  us  speaking  words  of  kindness,  and  pour- 
ing the  balm  of  Gilead  into  the  bleeding  wounds. 

For  these  and  other  reasons  which  will  appear  when  we 
come  more  fully  to  examine  the  offices  of  the  shield  of  faith, 
we  may  readily  see  why  the  apostle  tells  us,  "  above  all," 
to  take  this  piece  of  the  armour. 

The  shield  is  an  implement  without  which  no  ancient 


168     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 

soldier  would  have  been  regarded  as  properly  arrayed 
for  battle.  The  ancient  shields  were  usually  made  of  wood, 
covered  with  brass  or  some  other  metal.  In  rare  instances 
they  were  entirely  of  brass,  or  even  of  gold,  as  were  those 
of  Solomon.  Of  the  shield  there  were  two  varieties, — one 
a  smaller  and  lighter  article  which  could  be  easily  handled, 
so  as  to  protect  any  part  of  the  person.  This  description 
was  commonly  used  by  cavalry.  The  other  was  so  large  as 
effectually  to  conceal  the  soldier.  It  formed  a  complete  pro- 
tection, was  generally  in  use  amongst  foot-soldiers,  and  from 
this  the  imagery  of  the  apostle  is  undoubtedly  derived. 

This  metallic  shield  could  defy  the  "  fiery  darts,"  or  ar- 
rows, which,  taking  fire  in  their  flight,  would  pierce  and 
consume  a  mere  wooden  fabric.  A  material  incombustible 
and  indestructible  by  such  darts  was  indispensable  to  safety. 
The  warrior  whose  shield  was  of  brass  could  stand  where 
the  blazing  storm  was  falling  thickest,  and  advance  to  the 
assault  fearless  of  harm. 

Be  assured,  reader,  that  in  the  provisions  of  grace  there 
is  offered  to  you  a  shield  impenetrable  and  imperishable, 
one  which  can  be  borne  everywhere  in  your  march,  which 
will  cover  all  your  panoply  and  yourself,  affording  com- 
plete protection  against  the  showers  of  fiery  darts  hurled 
at    you   either    from   this    or   the    unseen   world.      This 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH,  169 


implement  is  furnished  in  that  grace  to  which  the  apostle 
assigns  a  position  "  above  all"  others, — it  is  the  shield  of 
faith. 

The  shield  of  faith  is,  of  course,  the  reverse  of  the  shel- 
ter of  infidelity,  to  which  some  men  have  recourse  for 
refuge. 

We  now  use  the  term  "  infidelity"  in  its  broad  sense  of  a 
disbelief  of  the  Christian  system  of  truth  ;  for,  as  you  are 
well  aware,  there  are  those  who,  with  apparent  sincerity, 
profess  to  regard  the  religion  of  Christ  as  a  cunningly  de- 
vised fable.  All  testimony  as  to  the  divine  character  of 
the  word  of  God  they  reject,  and  neither  credit  its  revela- 
tions, nor  even,  in  some  cases,  believe  that  there  ever  lived 
such  a  person  as  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  under  this  wide 
refuge  of  infidelity  profess  to  regard  themselves  as  secure. 

Such  skeptics  do  not  indeed  pretend  that  they  are  thus 
guarded  against  temptation  and  sin,  for  they  look  upon 
temptations  but  as  the  reasonable  demands  of  propensities 
which  are  natural  to  all,  and  which  it  is  quite  proper  should 
be  indulged,  provided  such  indulgence  does  not  obviously 
and  seriously  interfere  with  the  body  physical,  social  or 
politic.  And  since  they  deny  the  validity  of  the  law  of 
God,  (and  where  there  is  no  law  there  can  be  no  transgres- 
sion,) they  acknowledge  no  such  thing  as  sin  in  the  evan- 

lo 


170  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


gelical  sense  of  that  term.  If  the  skeptic  sincerely  receives 
his  own  doctrines,  if  he  believes  that  there  is  no  place  of  fu- 
ture punishment,  no  prince  of  darkness  to  do  him  mischief, 
nor  any  such  thing  as  a  message  from  God  to  man,  revealing 
a  law  and  denouncing  wrath  against  transgressors,  then  of 
course  he  can  have  no  ground  for  fear  from  powers  satanic 
or  divine. 

Hence  there  are  those,  boasting  of  their  attainments  in  the 
wisdom  of  this  world,  who  have  avowedly  bid  defiance  to 
all  such  evils  as  those  from  which  the  Christian  panoply  is 
designed  as  a  protection  ;  who  have  cast  off  all  fear  of  God 
and  concern  for  a  future  state  ;  who  live  as  they  list,  having 
taken  refuge  under  this  pretended  shield  of  skepticism. 

It  would  be  beyond  our  present  purpose  to  pause  here, 
in  order  to  expose  the  futility  of  such  a  subterfuge ;  suffi- 
cient is  it  to  say  that  inasmuch  as  the  testimony  in  support 
of  Christianity  is  the  most  varied  and  conclusive,  as  it  has 
satisfied  multitudes  of  the  most  enlightened,  cautious,  and 
discriminating,  and  as  the  position  of  the  skeptic  must  fail 
to  satisfy  any  candid  and  persevering  inquirer  after  truth, 
the  shield  under  which  the  infidel  has  taken  refuge  must 
prove  unavailing, — the  fiery  darts  of  the  adversary  will 
easily  penetrate  its  fragile  fabric,  and  both  his  armour  and 
himself  be  consumed. 


THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  171 


Did  the  theme  and  the  circumstances  require  it,  how  we 
could  open  the  doors  of  the  sick-chamber  and  look  in  upon 
the  bold  blasphemer  and  skeptic  stretched  upon  his  dying 
couch,  without  God  and  without  hope,  a  prey  to  his  own 
conscience,  and  a  prey  to  the  great  adversary,  just  awaiting 
the  approach  of  an  eternal  captivity. 

There  is  also  a  practical  unbelief  which  leaves  its  pos- 
sessor equally  exposed,  if  not  equally  deluded.  The  num- 
ber of  avowed  infidels  may  now  be  less,  perhaps,  than  in 
some  former  periods,  although  under  the  new  guises  which 
infidehty  has  assumed  there  are  not  a  few  skeptics  who  are 
not  known  as  such. 

A  much  larger  class  than  that  of  which  we  have  been 
speaking,  is  found  in  those  whose  infidelity  is  chiefly  prac- 
tical. Such  unbelievers  do  not  deny  the  truth  of  the 
Bible,  nor  the  evangelical  meaning  of  the  doctrines 
which  it  teaches.  Theoretically  they  stand  on  the  same 
ground  with  the  believer — they  admit  everything.  But 
whilst  in  theory  they  hold  the  truth,  in  practice  they  deny 
it.  The  great  tenets  of  revelation  have  no  controlling  effect 
upon  their  hearts  and  lives.  Death,  judgment,  heaven  and 
hell,  the  favour  of  God,  the  salvation  of  the  soul  by  the 
merits  of  a  crucified  Redeemer — these  their  lips  confess  to 
be  of  momentous  import,  but  the  language  of  the  lips  is 


172  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


denied  by  the  conduct  of  the  life.  Does  their  faith  in  these 
truths  deter  them  from  sin  and  lead  to  a  sincere  seekino- 
after  peace  with  God,  and  an  eternal  state  of  blessedness 
beyond  the  tomb  ?  Or  are  they  not  so  utterly  reckless  and 
indifferent  to  their  immortal  interests,  that  neither  the  most 
awful  threatenings,  nor  the  most  enchanting  promises,  make 
the  thousandth  part  the  impression  upon  them  as  the  most 
trifling  danger  to  their  person  or  property,  or  the  most  petty 
prospect  of  earthly  gain  or  pleasure  ? 

Ministers  preach  God's  word  with  clearness  and  power, 
and  the  hearers  admit  that  all  these  things  are  so,  and  yet 
who  among  the  multitudes  that  hear  pretend  to  do  them  ? 
Were  these  same  hearers  on  a  sick-bed  extremely  ill,  and 
did  the  physician  insist  on  a  speedy  resort  to  certain  reme- 
dies as  the  only  hope  for  arresting  the  waning  current  of 
life,  how  instantly  would  the  remedy  be  taken,  no  matter 
how  revolting  or  painful ;  but  when  assured,  on  authority 
that  cannot  be  disputed,  that  they  are  the  subjects  of  a 
mortal  malady,  that  everlasting  death  is  staring  them  in  the 
face,  and  that  without  a  resort  to  the  great  Physician  of 
souls  there  can  be  no  hope  for  recovery, — they  say  this  is  all 
true,  and  these  things  should  by  all  means  be  attended  to, 
but  at  the  same  time  manifest  no  concern  whatever  either 
as  to  the  danger  or  the  remedy. 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  173 


Now,  this  we  call  practical  infidelity.  Of  what  avail  is 
it  that  such  persons  professedly  receive  the  truth,  when 
that  truth  is  to  them  a  dead  letter  ?  As  to  any  beneficial 
results,  might  there  not  as  well  have  been  no  revelation  ? 
Theirs  is  a  mere  speculative  credence, — a  faith  without 
works,  which,  being  dead,  cannot  avail.  To  all  practical 
purposes  they  stand  on  the  same  ground  with  the  open  in- 
fidel. They  have  possessed  themselves  of  some  sort  of  be- 
lief, but  not  being  vital  and  effective,  it  is  not  that  faith 
which  is  the  shield  of  the  Christian  warrior. 

Nor  will  a  mere  temporary  and  transient  faith  subserve 
the  purpose  of  an  availing  shield  for  the  soldier  of  the  cross. 
Times  there  are  with  almost  all  hearers  of  the  word  when 
its  solemn  truths  are  not  regarded  with  that  entire  indiffer- 
ence which  usually  prevails.  There  will  be  occasions  when 
the  truth,  however  unwelcome,  will  come  home  to  the  spirit, 
and  show  that  its  claims  cannot  be  lightly  disregarded.  A 
week  upon  a  sick-bed,  very  near  the  borders  of  eternity  ;  a 
household  where  are  going  up  lamentations  and  woe,  be- 
cause of  one  of  whom  they  have  been  bereaved  ;  a  revival 
of  religion,  in  which  young  companions  and  partners  of  our 
blood  are  forsaking  the  ways  of  sin  to  follow  the  Saviour ; 
or  the  still  small  voice  of  the  Spirit  whispering  within  the 

bosom — these,  or  similar  causes,  have  much  to  do  with  im- 

15* 


174     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


pressing  on  the  careless  heart  the  folly  and  danger  of  ne- 
glecting the  great  salvation.  Often  do  such  impressions 
seem  by  no  means  in  vain ;  and  from  the  sick-chamber,  the 
scenes  of  woe,  the  revival  of  religion,  the  inward  workings 
of  the  Spirit,  the  once  thoughtless  man  may  come  out, 
apparently  under  the  absorbing  power  of  things  divine, — 
sedate,  thoughtful,  devotional,  zealous  in  every  good  word 
and  work, — to  all  human  observation  a  changed  man. 

Nor  is  this  apparent  change  by  any  means  always,  or  even 
most  frequently,  deceptive.  Such  providences  and  gracious 
agencies  are  the  instrumentalities  by  which  God  is  con- 
stantly converting  souls  to  himself.  But  whilst  ^vnth  some 
such  impressions  are  radical  and  permanent,  with  others  they 
are  but  spurious  and  transient.  Like  the  morning  cloud,  or 
the  early  dew,  which,  however  they  may  expand  and  sparkle 
at  the  rising  dawn,  melt  at  once  away  before  the  footsteps 
of  the  monarch  of  the  day ;  so  these  exercises  may  be 
sometimes  lively,  and  give  promise  of  much  future  good  at 
the  outset,  but  when  the  time  of  trial  comes  they  all  pass 
away  never  to  return. 

This  temporary  faith  embraces,  while  it  lasts,  something 
more  than  the  cold  assent  of  the  understanding  to  the  truth. 
It  seems  to  take  hold  of  eternal  things  as  realities,  and  pro- 
duces a  most   obvious   and  powerful  effect  on  the  whole 


THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  l75 


character ;  so  that  even  had  the  possessor  availed  himself  of 
the  evangelical  faith  of  the  believer,  it  would  be  scarcelv 
possible  that  he  should  show  more  outward  evidence  of 
devotion  to  Christ  than  at  present.  He  seems  cordially  to 
approve  the  truth,  he  apparently  has  much  joy  in  receiving 
and  hearing  it ;  but,  alas !  this  faith  must  be  the  result  of 
some  mere  worldly  causes,  for  it  endures  only  for  a  time, 
and  soon  passes  away. 

Of  this  nature  were  the  stony-ground  hearers,  of  whom 
our  Saviour  speaks  in  the  parable  of  the  sower.  They 
received  the  w^ord  with  joy ;  they  seemed  to  understand  it, 
assented  to  it,  heard  it  gladly,  considered  and  approved  of 
it ;  and  it  sprang  up  in  an  outward  reformation  and  profes- 
sion. Yet  they  had  not  root  in  themselves,  but  endured  only 
for  a  while, — they  wanted  the  soil  of  a  sincere  heart  and 
true  affections,  of  firm  and  fixed  resolutions,  and  principles 
of  grace, — of  a  deep  and  abiding  faith.  They  had  some 
purposes  to  pursue  the  more  excellent  way,  but  these  were 
overpowered  by  unmortified  corruptions  and  the  strength 
of  temptation,  so  that  when  tribulation  or  persecution  came 
they  were  offended, — they  stumbled  and  fell  off  from  their 
former  religious  profession. 

A  very  striking  and  most  affecting  description  of  this 
same  temporary  and  superficial  faith,  is  given  by  the  apostle 


176  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


in  the  sixth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews.  The 
persons  there  spoken  of  seem  to  have  been  the  nearest 
possible  approximation  to  the  genuine  believer ;  and  yet 
their  views,  clear  as  they  were,  and  their  emotions,  power- 
ful as  they  were,  like  those  of  the  stony-ground  hearers, 
but  endured  for  a  while.  These  persons  were  "  once 
enlightened,"  so  as  to  take  clear  and  affecting  views  of 
divine  truth ;  they  once  "  tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift," — 
had  some  sweet  apprehensions  of  the  suitableness  and 
loveliness  of  Christ ;  they  "  were  made  partakers  of  the 
Holy  Ghost," — shared  the  powerful  influences  of  the  blessed 
Spirit ;  and  "  tasted  the  good  word  of  God," — the  precious- 
ness  of  the  promises, — "  and  the  powders  of  the  world  to 
come," — had  some  realizing  view  of  the  momentous  things 
of  eternity ;  but,  alas !  they  fell  away,  crucified  the  Son  of 
God  afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open  shame.  Their  faith, 
fair  as  was  its  aspect,  and  promising  as  were  its  evidences, 
was  after  all  but  superficial  and  temporary. 

Take  warning,  then,  from  such  examples  left  on  record 
by  the  pen  of  inspiration.  Look  at  these  precious 
vessels,  once  embarked  with  auspicious  breezes,  freighted 
with  immortality,  and  with  prospects  of  a  favourable 
voyage,  and  as  you  see  their  now  stranded  wrecks  strewn 
all   along  the  shores  of  eternity,   take  warning  lest   you 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  177 


also  be  satisfied  with  but  a  shallow  experience  in  the 
fundamentals  of  religion ;  lest  you  mistake  appearances  for 
the  reality.  See  the  soldier  who  has  buckled  on  the  armour, 
and  taken  "  above  all"  the  shield,  wdth  a  heart  beating 
high,  and  a  spirit  for  daring  deeds,  when  at  last  the  storm 
of  battle  lowers,  and  the  tempest  comes  down  upon  him, 
finding  himself  naked  and  exposed,  because  he  had  taken 
for  his  safeguard  a  mere  fragile,  perishable  defence,  which 
fails  him  just  when  the  time  for  trial  arrives, — and  from 
such  a  spectacle  take  warning.  That  faith  which  endures 
only  for  a  while,  which  disappears  when  the  day  of  tempta- 
tion or  adversity  comes,  can  be  no  availing  protection  to 
you,  but  will  leave  you  open  to  the  devil's  fiery  darts,  to  be 
pierced,  disabled,  and  carried  captive  by  him  at  his  will. 
Discard  every  other  material  for  your  shield,  and  seek 
alone  for  that  evangelical  and  spiritual  faith  to  which  the 
apostle  assigns  so  lofty  a  position  in  the  armory  of  the 
Christian  soldier. 


178  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH. 

"  Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to 
quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked." 

We  turn  from  unbelief  both  speculative  and  practical,  and 
from  a  mere  superficial  and  evanescent  faith,  which  are 
alike  unworthy  of  adoption  into  the  Christian  armory ;  and 
may  examine  with  greater  profit  the  nature  and  oflEices  of 
that  spiritual  and  evangelical  faith  which  is  for  a  shield  to 
the  soldier  of  the  cross. 

"  Faith,"  the  apostle  himself  defines  to  be  "  the  sub- 
stance of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen." 
Faith  in  Christ  has  been  well  described  as  "  a  saving  grace, 
wrought  in  the  soul  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  we  re- 
ceive Christ  as  he  is  revealed  in  the  gospel,  to  be  our  Pro- 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  179 


phet,  Priest,  and  King,  trusting  in  and  relying  upon  him  and 
his  righteousness  alone  for  justification  and  salvation." 

A  fundamental  office  of  faith,  therefore,  is  to  transfer  to 
the  Christian  soldier  the  meritorious  work  which  the  Cap- 
tain of  his  salvation  has  performed  in  his  behalf,  and  to 
make  this  to  him  for  a  shield. 

As  you  have  already  seen  when  examining  the  breast- 
plate of  righteousness,  our  divine  Lord  and  Master  has 
provided  for  his  people  an  infinite  store  of  merit.  For  them 
he  bore  the  curse  of  Sinai,  and  trod  the  wine-press  alone ; 
for  them  he  met  the  monster  death,  and  in  his  own  dark 
empire  conquered  him ;  and  for  them  he  ever  liveth  to  make 
continual  intercession.  All  his  glorious  achievements  when 
enduring  the  toil  of  travel,  of  night-watches,  of  weariness 
of  body  and  anguish  of  heart,  and  of  his  dying  strife, — all 
these  were  not  for  himself,  but  for  us;  and  by  his  sufferings 
we  are  saved,  by  his  death  we  live. 

But  by  what  means  is  this  work  of  Christ  made  our  own  ? 
Through  what  arrangement  can  what  was  achieved  by  our 
great  leader  be  reckoned  to  the  credit  of  his  followers  ? 
Are  all  men  rescued  from  the  curse  because  Christ  has 
borne  the  penalty  ?  Alas !  we  must  answer.  No  !  Notwith- 
standing the  costliness  of  this  sacrifice,  many  trample  it 
under  foot,   count  the    blood  of  the  covenant  an  unholy 


180     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


thing,  and  prefer  rather  for  themselves  to  run  the  risk  of 
the  law's  eternal  sanctions. 

How  then  shall  we  make  this  work  of  Christ  our  own  ? 
Must  we  dig  for  heaps  of  gold,  or  for  rare  and  precious 
gems,  that  we  may  purchase  for  ourselves  a  portion  of  this 
ransom  ?  Must  we  offer  the  fruit  of  our  bodies  for  the  sin 
of  our  souls,  or  go  on  long  and  painful  pilgrimages  to  entitle 
ourselves  to  a  part  in  the  ransom  ?  No  such  methods  for 
securing  an  interest  in  the  great  propitiation  are  demanded. 

"We  are  saved,"  says  the  apostle,  "by  faith."  We 
have  only  to  believe,  and  the  ransom  shall  be  ours.  With 
humble  heart  and  contrite  spirit  we  must  approach  the 
Lamb  of  Calvary,  and  there  confessing  our  sins,  believe 
that  he  is  able  and  willing  to  do  for  us  all  that  our  souls 
demand,  and  without  reserve  commit  our  interests  for  ever 
to  his  hands ;  and  thus  believing  we  shall  rejoice  to  see  the 
curse  remove.  By  this  simple  act  of  faith  in  the  Son  of 
God  we  are  enabled  to  appropriate  his  merits  ;  his  righteous- 
ness has  now  become  our  own ;  w^e  are  provided  with 
wherewithal  to  meet  every  demand  against  us ;  the  law  is 
satisfied,  our  souls  are  justified,  and  we  are  saved. 

You  will  beware  lest,  because  of  its  very  simplicity,  you 
mistake  the  nature  of  this  saving  faith.  It  is  not  a  com- 
plex act  of  the  mind.     It  is  not  something  necessarily  ob- 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  181 


scure  and  afar  off.     "  The  righteousness  which  is  of  faith 

speaketh  on  this  wise,  Say  not  in  thine  heart,  Who  shall 

ascend  into  heaven?  (that  is,  to  hring  Christ  down  from 

above ;)   or  who  shall  descend  into  the  deep  ?    (that  is,  to 

bring  up  Christ  again  from  the  dead.)     But  what  saith  it? 

The  w^ord  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy 

heart ;  that  is,  the  w^ord  of  faith  which  we  preach ;  that  if 

thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 

shalt  believe  in  thy  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from 

the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved."     You  need  not  wait  for 

Christ  to   be  revealed  again  from  heaven.     He  is  present 

everywhere  by  his  divine  nature,  by  his  word,  and  by  his 

Spirit ;  and  whosoever  calls  upon  his  name  shall  be  saved. 

Barbarian,  Scythian,  Jew,  Greek,  bond  and  free,  have  the 

same  way  of  access,  and  the  same  free  welcome  by  the  one 

living  door  into  the  kingdom. 

How  immediate,  and  how  successful,  have  been  the  w^ork- 

ings  of  this  saving  faith !    Here  were  the  blind  men  who  came 

to  the  Saviour  for  relief.  Long  had  their  sightless  orbs  desired 

to  behold  the  sweet  and  pleasant  light  of  day,  but  hitherto  in 

vain.  They  now  have  found  the  true  Physician.  "Jesus  saith 

unto  them,  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ?     They 

said  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord.     Then  touched  he  their  eyes, 

saying,  According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you.     And  their 

16 


182  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


eyes  were  opened  ;" — they  left  the  Master  rejoicing  in  the 
light  of  day.  The  woman  which  for  twelve  years  had  had 
an  issue  of  blood,  and  had  spent  her  living  on  physicians, 
said  within  herself,  "  If  I  may  but  touch  his  garment  I 
shall  be  whole,"  and  heard  as  the  joyful  reply,  "  Daughter, 
be  of  good  comfort,  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole. 
And  she  was  made  whole  from  that  hour."  Once  when 
dining  at  a  Pharisee's  house,  a  broken-hearted  woman,  whose 
former  life  had  been  one  of  profligacy,  came  behind  him  as 
he  sat  at  meat,  and  washed  his  feet  with  her  tears,  and 
wiped  them  with  the  hairs  of  her  head.  The  self-righteous 
Pharisees  scorned  the  visitor  and  her  freedom  with  their 
guest.  But  he  who  knew  the  heart  said  to  her  who  had 
evinced  such  confiding  care  and  affection,  "  Thy  sins  are 
forgiven."  "Thy  faith  hath  saved  thee;  go  in  peace." 
The  thief  upon  the  cross,  too,  who  was  only  able  with  his 
last  gasping  breath  to  whisper  the  prayer,  "  Lord,  remem- 
ber me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom,"  was  cheered 
in  his  departing  moments  with  the  assurance,  "  This  day 
shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise."  You  have  only,  like 
these  successful  suppliants,  to  look  away  from  yourself  to  the 
helper, — like  them  to  abandon  every  other  refuge  but  this ; 
and  cordially  resting  on  the  provisions  of  a  Saviour's  righte- 
ousness, you  will  have  exercised  that  faith  without  which 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  183 


it  is  impossible  to  please  God,  and  with  which  there  can 
be  no  longer  any  condemnation. 

How  simple,  and  yet  how  suitable  and  glorious  a  piece 
of  armour,  then,  have  we  here.  Sinai  may  flash  its  light- 
nings and  roll  its  deep  thunders,  the  gates  of  hell  may 
vent  their  rage,  Satan  and  his  allies  may  hurl  their  storms 
of  fiery  darts  ;  but  the  humble  soldier  of  the  cross  shall  still 
hold  on  his  heavenward  way  unharmed,  because  by  divine 
grace  he  has  taken  to  himself  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith 
he  is  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked. 

Faith  performs  another  of  its  important  offices  as  a 
shield,  by  presenting  to  its  possessor  both  temporal  and 
eternal  things  in  something  of  their  real  and  relative  value. 

It  was  under  the  vivid  impression  of  the  momentous 
things  from  the  unseen  world  brought  nigh  by  faith,  that 
the  soldier  was  led  to  forsake  his  allegiance  to  the  powers 
of  darkness,  and  enlist  in  the  armies  of  light.  But  these 
great  objects  of  contemplation  and  pursuit  demand  an 
habitual  and  permanent  consideration, — they  must  be 
brought  ever  nigh,  and  made  always  to  stand  out  in  their 
vast  proportions,  or  we  shall  lose  the  influence  of  eternal 
things,  and  lose  also  a  correct  estimate  of  the  things 
of  time. 

In  pointing  out  the  wiles  of  the  devil,  allusion  has  already 


184  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


been  made  to  the  spell  which  the  evil  one  weaves  around 
the  children  of  disobedience,  as  to  the  value  of  all  earthly 
good.  You  have  seen  how  he  can  cast  a  fascination  over 
objects  in  themselves  empty  and  worthless,  and  dazzle  the 
senses  and  bewitch  the  soul  with  their  pretended  charms ; 
and  how  effectually  by  this  process  he  draws  a  curtain 
over  those  momentous  realities  which  stretch  beyond  the 
bounds  of  time.  Magnifying  things  present  out  of  all  pro- 
portion, and  shutting  out  of  view  the  things  of  the  unseen 
eternity,  men  are  led  to  live  for  the  world  as  if  this  were 
their  everlasting  all. 

Against  so  fearful  and  fatal  an  infatuation,  the  Christian's 
shield  affords  a  protection  ;  for  faith  penetrates  the  unseen 
world,  brings  to  light  its  solemn  realities,  and  makes  them 
stand  out  in  living  colours  as  if  they  were  just  at  hand. 
The  man  of  science,  with  his  magic  glass,  surveys  the 
boundless  fields  of  distant  space,  and  walks  upon  his  lofty 
path  amidst  the  stars,  until  in  spirit  he  is  borne  away  from 
earth,  and  lives  in  those  far  distant  worlds  which  others 
see  only  as  constellations  in  the  skies ;  but  the  humble 
Christian  soldier,  untutored  in  the  halls  of  science,  and  with 
no  magic  glass  but  that  which  grace  has  wrought  within 
the  soul,  by  faith  looks  out  beyond  all  constellations,  stars, 
and  depths  of  ether,  away  into  the  unfathomable  abyss  of 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  385 


the  eternal  heavens,  and  dwells  upon  the  matchless  wonders 
of  God's  great  arcana  there,  until  he  seems  to  have  been 
uplifted  from  these  lower  spheres  to  dwell  among  the 
glorious  things  unseen  by  mortal  eyes.  "We  look  not," 
says  the  apostle,  "  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the 
things  which  are  unseen ;  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are 
temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  unseen  are  eternal." 

Now,  the  fact  here  brought  to  view,  this  connection 
formed  by  faith  between  the  believer  and  the  unseen  world, 
reveals  to  us  one  great  principle  by  which  his  life  is  regu- 
lated. He  is  not  living  here,  but  there.  His  affections, 
his  hopes,  his  joys,  his  ever-blessed  home, — all  are  beyond 
the  skies.  The  truths  written  by  inspiration,  which  to 
others  may  seem  as  empty  words,  are  to  him  full  of  import 
as  to  his  soul's  eternal  well-being.  Hell  is  to  him  no 
phantom,  heaven  no  mere  beautiful  vision  of  fancy,  the 
judgment  no  empty  drama,  God  and  Christ  not  simply 
characters  on  the  page  of  history ; — all,  all  are  just  as  real 
as  are  the  skies  above  him,  or  the  earth  on  which  he  treads, 
or  the  partners  of  his  blood  who  share  his  daily  converse, — 
just  as  real,  and  infinitely  more  enduring  and  important. 

Can  he,  think  you,  around  whom  the  future  world  stands 

ever  present  and  open,  live  on  here  as  if  he  w^ere  to  live  for 

ever  here  ?     Can  he  disregard  the  calls  which  summon  him 

16* 


186     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


to  prepare  for  actual  entrance  on  those  untrodden  shores  ? 
Can  he  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  all  warnings  as  to  the  approach 
of  death,  even  though  the  clods  of  the  valley  may  be  falling 
on  the  coffin-lid  beneath  him,  when  he  has  all  the  while 
been  looking  at  death  as  an  event  inevitable  ?  Can  he 
scorn  the  denunciations  of  coming  wrath,  when  he  has 
already  seen  the  gates  of  the  pit,  and  heard  the  groans  of 
the  lost  ?  or  refuse  to  give  heed  to  the  beckonings  to  the 
better  world,  when  the  pearly  gates  and  golden  streets  have 
stood  out  athwart  his  vision  ?  Shall  he  despise  the  judg- 
ment, when  before  him  the  books  have  been  opened,  and  the 
sheeted  dead  arraigned  ?  Or  can  he  trample  under  foot  the 
blood  of  Christ,  or  do  despite  to  the  Spirit  of  his  grace,  when 
he  has  seen  that  by  that  blood  alone  he  can  be  cleansed 
from  guilt,  and  by  that  Spirit  alone  he  can  be  renewed  after 
the  image  of  God,  and  fitted  to  escape  from  hell  and  fly  to 
heaven  ? 

Or  tell  me,  how  will  this  believer,  linked  by  faith  to 
things  eternal,  look  upon  the  fleeting  things  of  time  ?  Will 
earthly  good  seem  now  so  much  entitled  to  pre-eminence  ? 
Will  it  appear  worth  while  for  men  to  toil  their  lifetime, 
ever  eating  the  bread  of  carefulness  to  heap  up  a  little  gold, 
to  gather  together  a  few  houses,  or  farms,  or  stocks  ?  or  to 
strive  after  name,  and  place,  and  power?  or  to  exhaust 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  187 


their  energies  seeking  for  sensual  pleasure  in  the  dance,  the 
jest,  the  game  of  chance,  or  the  wine-cup  ?  Ah !  tell  me, 
to  him  who  looks  hehind  all  these  to  that  fearful  day  of 
reckoning  in  reserve,  how  shall  such  a  laying  out  of  life  seem 
suited  to  poor  creatures  of  a  day  on  their  journey  to  eter- 
nity ?  Would  he  be  satisfied  with  such  trifling  toys  for  his 
immortal  portion  ?  such  chaff  and  bubbles  for  his  undying 
appetites  ? — such  employments  as  his  chief  pursuit  just  on 
the  eve  of  the  judgment,  and  of  heaven  or  hell  ?  No  !  ye 
riches,  honours,  sensual  joys,  ye  good  things  of  this  present 
world,  ye  cannot  charm  the  soldier  from  his  heavenward 
march  to  find  his  portion  here.  He  has  in  view  far  higher, 
purer,  and  more  enduring  good  than  you  can  give. 

"  He  cannot  buy  your  bliss  so  dear, 
Nor  part  with  heaven  for  you." 

Tempt  him  ye  may  ;  for  the  present  seem  to  offer  an  easier 
and  more  attractive  lot  than  his  ye  may ;  for  a  little  even  turn 
him  from  his  path  of  uprightness  ye  may,  but  finally  make  him 
a  conquest  of  your  charms  ye  never  shall;  for  he  has  looked 
beyond  the  brief  day  allotted  you  and  seen  what  shall  be 
your  end,  and  looked  at  the  unseen  but  certain  good  in  re- 
serve, and  learned  how  that  shall  satisfy  and  endure ;  he 
has  believed  the  revelations  of  God's  word  as  to  the  value 
of  all  things  temporal  and  eternal,  and  thus  believing  he 


188  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


is  fortified  against  all  your  assaults.     His  faith  has  proved 
itself  his  shield. 

This  shield  of  the  Christian  warrior  also  performs  its 
office  by  protecting  the  soldier  against  the  direct  power  of 
temptation.  Faith  so  places  God  before  the  soul  that  we 
cannot  forget  that  his  omniscient  eye  is  on  us.  We  are 
conscious  of  his  omnipresence ;  we  know  his  holiness  and 
his  utter  abhorrence  of  all  evil ;  we  remember  the  eternal 
sanctions  of  his  august  law,  and  cannot  forget  that  "  the 
soul  that  sins  shall  die."  We  see  in  the  cross  of  Christ. 
how  horrible  a  thing  is  sin,  and  we  see  it  in  the  curse  it  has 
scattered  broadcast  over  this  fallen  world.  We  know  too 
how  foolish  will  be  the  bargain  if  we  forfeit  the  favour  of 
God  for  a  mere  momentary  pleasure ;  and  thus  believing  our 
souls  are  fortified  against  the  assaults  of  the  tempter. 

Rich  are  the  provisions,  too,  which  faith  furnishes  to 
cheer  and  support  the  tempted.  She  points  to  all  the 
saints  and  shows  how  temptation  has  been  their  common 
lot ;  she  points  to  the  Master  himself,  as  for  forty  days  he 
was  under  the  power  of  the  tempter,  and  exhorts  us  to 
"  consider  him  who  endured  such  contradiction,  lest  we  be 
wearied  and  faint  in  our  minds  ;"  and  she  points  to  our  own 
past  experience  when  we  have  been  strongly  pressed  and 
yet  have  found  deliverance. 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  189 


See  how  this  shield  proved  a  defence  to  Moses  in  the 
hour  of  his  trial.  "  When  he  was  come  to  years  he  refused 
to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,  choosing  rather 
to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God  than  to  enjoy 
the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season  ;  esteeming  the  reproach 
of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt ;  for 
he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  reward."  Before 
this  humble  man  of  God  were  placed  the  most  enticing 
things  of  time.  Station,  wealth,  and  sensual  joys,  were  the 
rich  banquet  spread  before  him.  He  had  only  to  rid  himself 
of  the  reproach  of  Christ,  which  in  itself  would  have  improved 
the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held, — and  then  this  paradise 
of  carnal  good  stood  wide  open  for  his  free  admission,  and 
he  might  enter  in  and  partake  to  satiety  of  its  fruits. 

"But  beyond  this  carnal  paradise  stretched  the  vision 
of  the  tempted  saint.  Away  above  all  earthly  things 
he  saw  a  banquet  spread  with  richer  viands ; — a  feast 
whose  splendid  fruits  were  poisoned  by  no  bitterness,  whose 
stores  were  inexhaustible,  whose  sweet  companionships 
never  should  be  disturbed,  and  where  if  a  man  once  ate  he 
should  never  hunger  more  ; — and  with  a  repast  such  as  this 
before  him,  what  mattered  it  that  he  must  be  patient  until 
a  few  brief  days  had  passed  their  weary  rounds ;  he  still 
looked  to  the  recompense  of  reward,  and  waiting  for  his 


190  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


expected  fruition  of  the  joys  to  come,  willingly  denied  him- 
self the  present  seeming  good,  despising  the  honours  and 
pleasures  of  the  palace  of  the  Pharaoh's  and  the  rich 
treasures  of  Egypt. 

Or  see  Joseph,  when  also  tempted  by  the  appeals  of 
sense.  How  he  stands  triumphant  over  the  powerful  onsets 
of  the  evil  one.  In  the  hour  of  trial  his  faith  brought  home 
the  fear  of  God  and  of  sin  to  his  soul ;  and  amidst  the  most 
enticing  arguments  for  sensual  pleasure,  he  is  enabled  to 
remain  steadfast  whilst  he  cries  out,  "  How  can  I  do  this 
great  wickedness  and  sin  against  God?"  Vividly  before 
his  mind  stood  out  the  great  omniscient  and  all  holy  God, — 
whose  favour  to  him  was  life  and  whose  wrath  was  death, 
and  before  whom  he  must  at  last  appear:  and  to  sin  against 
this  God  by  such  wickedness  he  cannot,  he  will  not,  consent. 
Faith  proved  to  be  a  shield. 

Not  unfrequently,  too,  does  this  shield  protect  the  soldier 
against  the  malignant  opponents  of  the  gospel.  There  are 
those  who  have  made  themselves  familiar  with  the  common 
cantings  of  infidelity  and  error,  who  find  their  pleasure  in 
assailing  weak  and  ill-instructed  Christians.  On  every 
hand  they  beset  the  humble  saint,  and  with  a  show  of  pro- 
found logic  and  research  may  succeed  in  entangling  their 
unpractised  opponent  so  that  he  confesses  his  inability  (o 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  191 


solve  the  difficulties  proposed ; — but  have  they  succeeded 
in  turning  this  uninformed  believer  into  an  infidel  ?  By  no 
means.  He  may  be  led  to  say,  I  am  not,  indeed,  skilled 
in  disputation,  nor  learned  in  the  technicalities  of  the 
schools, — I  am  not  able  to  meet  your  objections  in  argu- 
ment,— but  I  know  my  ground  to  be  the  truth,  for  I  have 
my  own  actual  experience  for  a  witness ; — I  am  sure  the 
doctrines  which  I  hold  are  divine,  for  their  god-like  power 
I  have  felt  in  my  own  soul.  So  that  though  the  devil  and 
his  earthly  allies  may  intellectually  confuse,  and  ever  so 
much  confound  the  Christian  soldier,  they  cannot  conquer 
him. 

He  may  be  assailed  as  to  the  reality  of  a  change  of  heart, 
and  may  be  unable  to  satisfy  the  caviller  as  to  its  nature, 
and  the  agency  by  which  it  is  accomplished ;  and  yet  neither 
all  the  wicked  men  on  earth,  nor  all  the  hosts  of  hell  could 
convince  him  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  an  evangelical 
and  spiritual  regeneration,  because  he  has  himself  actually 
undergone  that  change,  and  its  reality  is  with  him  no  longer 
a  mere  theme  for  speculation,  it  is  matter  of  experience. 

Thus  also  it  is  with  others  of  the  doctrines  which  consti- 
tute the  faith  of  the  believer, — he  has  inwardly  experienced 
their  truth.  He  has  been  quickened  by  their  life-giving 
power ;    he   has    been   sustained    and    comforted    by    the 


L 


192  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


promises  ;  he  has  seen  for  himself  that  God  is  the  hearer 
and  the  answerer  of  prayer,  and  hence  is  he  fortified  in  his 
position  beyond  all  successful  assault.  Let  the  envenomed 
arrows  from  the  enemy's  ranks  be  hurled  at  him  ever  so 
thick  ;  humble  and  unpretending  though  this  soldier  of  the 
cross  may  seem,  in  his  honest  and  unwavering  faith  he  has 
taken  to  himself  a  shield  more  enduring  than  those  of  gold  or 
brass, — a  shield  which  wdll  effectually  quench  all  the  fiery 
darts  of  the  wicked. 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  193 


CHAPTER  XYI. 


THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH. 

"Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to 
quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked." 

Manifold  are  the  uses  for  the  Christian  warrior's  shield. 
Its  benefits  are  not  confined  to  any  one  time  or  phice,  but 
are  seen  and  felt  all  through  his  toilsome, dangerous  march. 
Never  is  its  priceless  value  more  apparent  than  in  the 

Defence  it  affords  the  soldier  of  the  cross  in  times  of  great 
perplexity  and  extremity.  "We  walk  by  faith,"  says  the 
apostle,  "not  by  sight;"  and  God  in  his  providence  often- 
times seems  so  to  shut  up  his  people  from  the  light  of  sense, 
that  if  they  walk  at  all  they  must  walk  by  faith.  Our 
own  devices  may  have  all  come  to  naught ;  the  wisdom  of 
human  counsellors  has  fiiiled  ;  every  new  effort  to  extricate 

ourselves  from    the   harassments  by  which  we  are  encom- 

17 


194  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


passed  seems  but  to  plunge  us  deeper  into  trouble.  On 
every  hand  we  look  for  light,  but  behold  darkness,  until 
we  are  constrained  to  feel  that  "it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh 
to  direct  his  steps" — that  if  help  come  at  all  it  must  come 
from  God  alone. 

Such  occasions  of  perplexity  are  by  no  means  rare  in  the 
experience  of  the  soldiers  of  salvation.  Often  do  they 
seem  to  be  sent  on  what,  to  all  human  observation,  must 
be  hopeless  errands ;  often  do  they  seem  to  be  left  almost 
alone  and  without  succour  in  the  enemy's  country,  where, 
there  appears  to  be  no  alternative  but  to  perish  from  want 
or  by  a  hostile  hand.  No  faithful  friends  come  nigh  to 
bring  relief;  no  cries  however  piteous  seem  any  where  to 
find  the  response  of  sympathy ;  no  last  forlorn  struggles 
of  the  sickening  heart,  nor  of  the  wasting  body,  bring  any 
prospect  for  escape.  Long  have  the  heavens  been  overhung 
with  sable  clouds, — heavy  and  constant  have  been  the 
peltings  of  the  storm ;  and  still  the  heavens  are  black,  and 
still  the  tempest  drives  on  in  its  fury.  There  are  no 
portents  of  a  change  of  weather.  A  lot  such  as  this  may 
have  been  your  own.  Distressing  embarrassments  in 
business,  sorrows  heavy  and  long  continued,  sources  of 
anxiety  because  of  members  of  your  household,  these  or 
similar    causes   may   have  pressed  with  mountain-weight 


THE     SHIELD     OF    FAITH.  195 


upon  your  spirit, — a  weight  which  it  seemed  alike  impos- 
sible for  you  to  bear,  and  impracticable  for  you  to  avert. 

Now,  we  say  that  the  Captain  of  Salvation  doubtless 
marches  his  followers  into  just  such  howling  deserts,  and 
leaves  them  in  just  such  extremities,  in  order  that  he  may 
teach  them  to  walk  by  faith  and  not  by  sight, — to  look 
utterly  away  from  all  dependence  on  Egypt  for  help,  and 
to  learn  where  is  the  only  power  which  can  avail. 

You  have  an  instance  of  God's  dealings  on  this  wise, 
with  his  ancient  people,  when  their  flight  from  Pharaoh  had 
brought  them  to  the  borders  of  the  Red  Sea.  As  far  as  man 
could  judge,  their  destruction  here  was  inevitable.  On  either 
side  were  inaccessible  mountains,  behind  them  thundered 
the  war-chariots  of  Egypt,  at  their  feet  rolled  the  deep 
waters.  And  yet  in  just  this  extremity  did  they  find  the 
needful  help.  Having  come  to  the  end  of  all,  walking  by 
sight,  they  were  now  to  see  what  faith  could  do.  Right  on 
the  borders  of  the  sea  though  they  stood,  the  command 
came  from  their  divine  leader  to  "go  forward;"  and  for- 
ward they  went ;  and  back  rolled  the  waves,  and  dry-shod 
they  marched  in  triumph  to  the  other  side,  leaving  the  hosts 
of  Egypt  to  perish  in  their  hopeless  attempt  at  pursuit. 

"  Go  forward  ;" — such  is  the  language  addressed  to  all 
God's  children  in  seasons  of  extremity.    Go  forward,  though 


^. 


196  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


the  way  seems  dark,  though  your  next  footsteps  threaten 
to  engulf  you  in  hopeless  ruin.  Go  forward  in  the  prac- 
tice of  all  Christian  graces,  in  humble  obedience  to  your 
Master's  will,  in  the  exercise  of  an  abiding  faith ;  and  rest 
assured  that  though  Egypt's  chariots  thunder  at  your  back, 
and  dark  mountains  rise  on  either  hand,  and  a  deep  sea  rolls 
before  you,  he  who  has  told  you  to  go  will  prepare  a  way 
wherein  your  feet  may  safely  tread.  Only  have  faith  in 
God,  and  never  fear  but  that  that  faith  will  prove  to  you 
a  shield  equal  to  any  emergency.  We  may  not  be  able  to 
see  the  way  out  of  our  troubles ;  but  there  is  a  way,  and  he 
to  whom  you  have  confided  your  interests  knows  that  way, 
and  in  due  time  will  lead  you  in  it.  Hear  him  as  he  says, 
"  Fear  not,  I  am  with  thee."  Have  faith  in  these  words, 
and  take  that  for  your  shield. 

See  also  how  faith  was  a  shield  to  the  patriarch  when 
called  to  offer  up  his  son.  From  a  sacrifice  so  unparalleled 
and  painful,  what  heart  might  not  have  shrunk  back? 
Who  would  not  have  been  ready  with  an  excuse  for  the  man 
of  God,  had  he  plead  off  from  binding  his  boy  upon  the  altar, 
mangling  him  with  the  knife,  and  then  seeing  him  crisped  in 
the  flames  ?  But  calmly,  and  without  a  murmur,  did  the 
patriarch  prepare  the  altar  and  the  wood  and  get  ready  for 
the  sacrifice.    On  this  journey  to  the  land  of  Moriah,  he  had 


THE    SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  197 


said  to  his  youthful  companion,  "  My  son,  God  will  provide 
a  lamb  for  a  burnt- offering;"  and  in  those  words  is  revealed 
the  grace  which  upheld  the  patriarch  in  this  great  ex- 
tremity. The  errand  might  have  seemed  to  him  more  than 
strange  ;  he  might  have  thought  it  unaccountable  that  a  be- 
nignant God  should  call  him  to  this  almost  inhuman  deed ; 
and  yet,  whether  Isaac  were  to  be  the  offering  or  not,  it  was 
enough  for  him  to  know  that  the  Lord  would  provide ;  and 
in  this  divine  confidence  he  was  borne  forward  through  the 
trying  journey,  and  the  more  trying  building  of  the  altar, 
and  getting  ready  for  the  sacrifice ;  and  in  the  end,  saw  that 
what  his  faith  had  promised  had  all  been  fulfilled.  His  faith 
sustained  and  carried  him  through  the  fiery  ordeal,  and 
therein  proved  itself  a  shield. 

This  one  truth,  "the  Lord  will  provide,"  received  into 
the  heart  in  the  full  confidence  of  faith,  is  of  itself  a  Avhole 
panoply  of  defence.  If  the  Lord  will  provide,  then  let 
sickness,  sorrow,  famine,  danger,  death,  come  when,  where, 
and  as  they  will ;  if  I  am  a  subject  of  God's  care  it  is 
enough.  The  Lord  being  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want. 
"Although  the  fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit 
be  in  the  vines ;  the  labour  of  the  olives  shall  fail,  and  the 
fields   shall   yield   no   meat;  the    flock  shall   be   cut    oflf 

from  the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls; 

17* 


198     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  ray 
salvation."     "  The  Lord  God  is  my  sun  and  my  shield." 

The  shield  of  faith  also  subserves  a  most  important 
purpose  by  making  ready  the  spiritual  soldier  for  great 
enterprises.  We  have  just  seen  that  it  is  the  way  of  the 
leader  of  Israel's  hosts  often  to  shut  up  his  people  in  cir- 
cumstances of  great  extremity.  It  is  also  his  way  at  times 
to  gird  them  for  great  achievements.  Many  of  the  ends 
accomplished  by  the  faithful  follower  of  Christ  often  far 
exceed  what  at  the  outset  of  his  campaigns  he  ever  could 
have  anticipated ;  but  the  Captain  of  the  hosts  has  led  him  on 
from  one  conquest  to  another,  his  faith  all  the  while  grow- 
ing stronger  through  success,  until  at  length  he  has  been 
prepared  not  only  to  attempt  and  expect,  but  also  to  accom- 
plish great  things. 

The  fact  that  faith  links  the  soul  through  Christ  to  God, 
is  the  great  principle  which  imparts  to  it  such  efficiency. 
If  we  have  constant  access  to  a  divine  power,  if  for  the  sake 
of  him  in  whose  name  we  approach  the  throne  there  is  no 
blessing  too  large  to  ask,  and  no  achievement  in  the  spiritual 
kingdom  too  great  to  expect ;  then  why  should  not  faith 
impart  to  every  soldier  of  the  cross  a  power  of  endurance 
and  achievement  altogether  superhuman?  If  God  be  for 
him,  who  can  be   against  him  ?      If  the  power  and   the 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  199 


goodness,  and  the  very  purposes  of  Him  who  ruleth  in  the 
armies  of  heaven  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  is 
on  the  side  of  this  miUtant  Christian ;  however  humble  and 
feeble  he  may  be  of  himself,  he  need  quail  before  no  enemy, 
he  need  stagger  at  no  enterprise.  Faith  scorns  all  creature 
obstacles  when  she  lays  her  hand  upon  him  who  controls 
all  creatures  at  his  will.  Faith  fears  not  to  go  out  to  the 
dark  and  stormy  night-vigils,  or  on  some  distant,  and  as 
yet  unrevealed  campaign,  because  she  has  entire  confidence 
in  him  at  whose  command  she  goes ;  and  the  great  leader 
of  the  hosts  doubtless  often  sends  forth  his  soldiers  with 
sealed  orders,  on  purpose  to  test  the  strength  of  their  faith, 
and  prove  the  sincerity  of  their  devotion. 

Thus  was  it  with  Abraham:  "  Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,"  was  the  command  which  came  to  the  patriarch 
amidst  his  tents  and  flocks  in  Mesopotamia:  "  Get  thee  out 
of  thy  country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's 
house,  unto  a  land  which  I  will  show  thee  ;  and  I  will 
make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and  I  will  bless  thee,  and 
make  thy  name  great ;  and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing ;  and  I 
will  bless  them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse  them  that  curse 
thee ;  and  in  thee  shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed."  Abraham  had  faith  in  the  wisdom,  goodness, 
and  power  of  God  to  accomplish  all  that  he  declared  ;  and 


200     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


trusting  to  this  word  of  promise,  he  left  country,  kindred, 
and  his  father's  house,  and  went  forth  not  knowing  whither 
he  went.  The  idle  multitude  and  perhaps  the  partners 
of  his  blood,  may  have  regarded  the  man  of  God, — starting 
on  an  errand  he  knew  not  whither,  as  embarking  in  a  vain 
and  fruitless  enterprise.  They  may  have  discouraged  him 
from  the  journey ;  but  faith  was  the  patriarch's  shield 
against  all  such  temptations;  and  out  he  went,  and  onward 
his  footsteps  trod,  until  he  had  reached  the  land  of  Canaan, 
where  was  fulfilled  the  promise,  that  his  seed  should  be 
'•  as  the  stars  of  the  sky  in  multitude." 

"  Make  thee  an  ark,"  was  the  voice  from  heaven  to 
Noah.  "And  behold  I,  even  I,  do  bring  a  flood  of  waters 
upon  the  earth,"  saith  God,  "  to  destroy  all  flesh,  wherein 
is  the  breath  of  life,  from  imder  heaven."  No  signs  were 
there  in  the  skies  of  a  coming  deluge.  Years  passed  on 
whilst  the  ark  was  building,  and  still  were  there  no  portents 
of  the  threatened  storm.  The  unbelieving  might  have  said, 
"Where  is  the  promise  of  his  coming?"  "All  things 
continue  as  they  were  from  the  beginning ;"  the  seasons 
still  run  their  accustomed  rounds ;  seed-time  and  harvest, 
day  and  night  still  come  and  go  according  to  their  estab- 
lished order.  To  the  eye  of  sense,  no  visionary  madman 
ever  was  engaged  in  a  wilder  scheme  than  this  great  ark- 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  201 


building.  Yet,  the  good  man's  confidence  in  the  divine 
command  faltered  not,  and  on  he  went  with  the  ark,  until 
at  length  the  work  was  done ;  and  then  came  the  deluge 
sweeping  away  the  mockers,  whilst  Noah  and  his  house- 
hold rode  in  safety  on  the  bosom  of  the  waters.  Faith  was 
his  shield  against  all  suggestions  of  unbelief,  and  discour- 
agements from  without ;  and  his  confidence  in  God,  as  the 
result  proved,  was  not  misplaced. 

So  also  did  faith  protect  and  carry  forw^ird  the  men  of 
God  in  apostolic  times,  amidst  their  mighty  toils  and  con- 
quests for  the  Captain  of  Salvation.  Few  they  were  in 
number,  and  feeble ;  against  them  were  arrayed  the  learn- 
ing, power,  wealth,  fashion,  and  prejudices  of  the  world. 
Looking  only  at  the  comparative  strength  of  the  hviman 
agencies  to  be  engaged,  they  might  well  have  cried  out  in 
despair,  "Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?"  And  yet, 
"  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  which  strengtheneth 
me,"  said  Paul;  and  what  he  said,  was  in  substance  the 
language  and  spirit  of  his  fellow-soldiers.  And  hence  this 
little  band,  with  their  meagre  numbers,  unknown  names, 
and  feeble  w^eapons,  went  out  to  the  conquest  of  the  world, 
and  before  their  footsteps  thrones  tottered  and  empires  fell, 
until  the  glorious  victory  for  the  faith  had  been  won. 

What  has  not  faith  accomplished  ?     Behind  this  shield 


202  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE    CROSS 


of  the  gospel  panoply  what  have  not  the  soldiers  of  the 
cross  been  ready  to  be  and  do  and  suffer  ?  Have  dangers 
thick  and  fearful  threatened  the  church  of  God  ?  Have 
afflictions  beyond  all  parallel  befallen  Zion?  Have  he; 
strong  ones  fallen  in  the  ranks  and  her  feeble  ones  proved 
faint-hearted  and  faithless  ?  Has  her  prosperity  seemed  to 
give  place  to  chilling  long-continued  adversity  ? — still  has 
the  good  soldier  clung  to  the  promises,  believing  that  all 
was  in  good  hands,  that  Zion's  interests  were  in  safe-keep- 
ing, that  no  weapon  formed  against  her  should  prosper  ;  and 
that  he  who  sits  as  king  upon  his  holy  hill  would  in  due 
time  beat  down  his  foes,  and  so  turn  back  the  darkling  pro- 
vidences, that  light  should  again  arise  upon  his  spiritual 
empire,  and  Zion  again  put  on  her  beautiful  garments,  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  having  risen  upon  her. 

So  faith  also  protects  the  believer  against  all  suggestions 
of  unbelief  as  to  the  future  triumphs  of  the  church  on  earth  ; 
and  makes  him  ready  to  do  his  work  with  quietness  and 
perseverance,  no  matter  what  the  prospects  to  the  eye  of 
sense.  The  conquests  of  the  armies  of  salvation  may  have 
hitherto  been  ever  so  few ;  one  enterprise  after  another  may 
have  seemed  fruitless ;  the  means  and  men  which  have  been 
enlisted  may  almost  have  seemed  sacrificed  to  no  purpose ; 
yet  will  the  faithful  soldier  still  gird  on  his  armour,  stand 


THE     SHIELD    OF    FAITH.  203 


at  his  post,  and  wage  on  the  warfare  just  as  zealously,  as  if 
he  always  saw  that  his  strokes  were  telling  on  the  enemy's 
ranks, — that  the  powers  of  dai'kness  were  continually  melt- 
ing away  before  his  triumphant  footsteps.  It  is  enough  for 
him  to  know,  that  his  Lord  has  sent  him  to  the  battle-field, 
that  he  goes  not  on  this  warfare  at  his  own  charges,  and  that 
his  business  is  to  do  good  service  in  the  army,  whilst  it  is 
his  master's  to  take  care  of  the  victory.  He  has  taken  faith 
for  his  shield. 

With  what  weapons  has  not  Satan  assaulted  the  saints  of 
the  Most  High ;  how  long  and  dreary  have  been  the  evil  days 
of  the  conflict  through  which  they  have  been  called  to  pass  ; 
and  over  what  appalling  evils  has  not  their  faith  proved 
victorious!  Believing  that  the  cause  in  which  they  were 
enlisted  would  prove  ultimately  and  completely  triumphant; 
looking  upon  themselves  but  as  frail  instruments  for  usher- 
ing in  its  reign  ;  and  feeling  entire  confidence  that  whatever 
might  befall  them  would  be  for  the  best, — that  though  they 
perished  they  should  individually  conquer,  and  the  work  still 
go  on ;  they  have  meekly  and  fearlessly  braved  every  spe- 
cies of  danger,  and  whitened  with  their  bones  more  than  ten 
thousand  battle-fields.  "  By  faith"  the  soldiers  of  the  cross 
"  have  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought  righteousness,  obtained 
promises,  stopped  the  mouths  of  lions ;  quenched   the  vio- 


204  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


lence  of  fire,  escaped  the  edge  of  the  sword,  out  of  weak- 
ness were  made  strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  turned  to 
flight  the  armies  of  the  ahens ; — they  were  stoned,  they 
were  sawn  asunder  ;  they  wandered  ahout  in  sheep-skins  and 
goat-skins,  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented, — they  wan- 
dered in  deserts  and  mountains  and  dens  and  caves  of  the 
earth."  Great,  appalling  and  inhuman  as  were- the  suffer- 
ings set  before  these  valiant  soldiers,  and  feeble  as  they  were 
in  themselves,  yet  invested  with  the  panoply  of  the  gospel, — 
fortified  behind  the  shield  of  faith,  they  went  fearlessly  for- 
ward, braving  the  fierce  torrents  of  death ; — and  though 
many  of  them  laid  down  upon  the  field  their  mortal  lives, 
yet  did  they  all  come  ofif  in  their  immortal  lives  much  more 
than  conquerors. 

Not  one  in  all  the  great  armies  of  salvation  is  there  now, 
who  is  not  marching  under  this  shield  of  faith  to  the  scenes 
of  his  eternal  triumph.  It  is  this  which  enables  the  believer 
to  look  upon  all  earthly  things  as  vanity ;  to  count  all  here 
but  loss  that  he  may  win  Christ,  and  be  found  in  him  ;  to 
press  on  through  temptation,  disaster,  and  sorrow,  to  the 
mark  of  the  hio;h  callinp-  of  God.  It  is  this  which  makes 
him  journey  as  a  pilgrim  and  stranger  on  earth,  feeling  that 
here  he  has  no  continuing  city,  and  no  abiding  place, — that 
he  seeks  a  better,  even  a  heavenly  country. 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  205 


Even  in  the  land  of  promise  did  Abraham  sojourn  as  in  a 
strange  country;  "for  he  looked  for  a  city  which  hath 
foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God."  The  placid 
skies  and  fruitful  soil  of  Canaan,  its  scenes  hallowed  by  con- 
verse with  his  God,  charming  as  they  may  have  been  to  the 
eye  of  sense,  and  sacred  because  of  pleasant  memories,  made 
up  no  dwelling-place  which  he  would  call  his  home.  Far 
away  above  those  skies,  unseen  to  mortal  vision,  there  rose 
upon  his  sight  a  city ; — a  city  whose  walls  were  precious 
stones,  whose  streets  w^ere  shining  gold,  whose  gates  were 
pearls,  whose  skies  were  nightless,  whose  inhabitants  were 
sinless,  whose  sun  was  God  and  the  Lamb, — a  city  which 
had  immovable  foundations, eternal  in  the  heavens.  With 
a  vision  such  as  this, — a  sinless,  sorrowless,  celestial  home 
standing  full  in  view,  and  ready  for  his  entrance  ;  how  could 
he  have  fixed  his  habitation  amidst  terrestrial  things  ?  Why 
should  he  not  have  sojourned  in  the  land  of  promise  as  in  a 
strange  country,  looking,  as  he  did,  for  this  city  made  ready 
for  him  in  the  better  heavenly  land  ? 

As  did  Abraham,  so  do  all  the  followers  of  Christ, 
"declare  plainly  that  they  seek  a  country;"  and  no  matter 
how  strong  the  ties  to  bind  them  here,  or  how  charm- 
ing may  be  some  of  the  scenes  this  side  the  flood,  still  are 

they  looking  by  faith  for  that  spirit-land,  that  city  of  the 

18 


206     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


skies  where  all  their  hopes  are  fixed,  and  in  which  they 
expect  to  take  up  their  everlasting  residence.  Over  all 
the  solicitations  of  time  and  sense,  the  soldiers  of  the  cross 
are  conquerors,  clad  as  they  are  with  the  shield  of  faith. 

Reader,  have  you  put  on  this  piece  of  armour  ?  Under 
the  Christian  warrior's  shield  are  you  protected  against 
temptation  and  discouragement,  inspired  for  noble  enter- 
prises, and  quenching  all  the  fiery  darts  which  the  wicked 
may  hurl  against  you  ? 

How  much  the  church  needs  this  grace  of  faith !  Were 
she  but,  in  all  her  members,  clad  as  she  should  be  with 
this  piece  of  panoply,  what  a  history  might  soon  be 
written  of  her  progress  and  her  conquests !  How  quickly 
would  her  reproach  be  wiped  away!  "If  ye  have  faith 
as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,"  said  the  Saviour,  "ye  shall 
say  unto  this  mountain.  Remove  hence  to  yonder  place, 
and  it  shall  remove ;  and  nothing  shall  be  impossible 
for  you."  Nothing  impossible  for  you !  Is  not  this 
promise  large  enough  ?  Nothing  impossible ;  neither  the 
conversion  of  your  household,  nor  a  revival  of  religion  in 
the  church  of  which  you  are  a  member,  nor  a  general  and 
unprecedented  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  over  the  land,  nor 
the  universal  spread  of  the  light  and  knowledge  of  salvation 
through  the  world, — nothing  shall  be  impossible  to  faith. 


THE     SHIELD    OF     FAITH.  207 


But,  alas  !  how  much  the  reverse  of  this  is  true.  How 
seldom  are  your  prayers  answered,  how  rarely  is  your 
church  revived,  how  slowly  is  religion  extended  through 
the  land,  how  little  is  accomplished  in  spreading  it  through 
the  world.      "  0  ye  of  little  faith." 

Take,  then,  afresh  your  shield  for  battle.  Attempt, 
expect,  and  by  the  grace  of  God  accomplish  great  things 
for  the  kingdom  of  your  Lord.  Only  believe,  and  then 
know  that  all  things  are  possible. 


208  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE     HELMET     OF     HOPE. 

"  And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation." 

No  suit  of  armour  could  be  complete  without  a  protection 
for  the  head.  This  great  ruling  member,  the  very  citadel 
of  intelligence  and  vital  energy,  is  too  important  to  be  left 
unguarded.  Hence,  from  the  remotest  ages,  the  helmet  has 
been  in  use  amongst  all  martial  nations.  The  champion 
of  the  Philistines  had  a  helmet  of  brass  upon  his  head,  as 
had  also  the  king  of  Israel  who  commanded  the  armies  of 
the  living  God.  The  Persians  and  Ethiopians  also  wore 
this  martial  cap  in  the  day  of  battle,  as  did  likewise  the 
warlike  Greeks.  The  helmet  of  the  latter  was  usually 
made  of  skins,  rendered  hard  and  impervious  to  the  weapons 
then  in  use ;  but  the  glittering  brass  or  iron  helmet  of  the 
Jewish  warrior  seems  the  most  fit  type  of  that  piece  of 


THE     HELMET    OF    HOPE.  209 


panoply  which  the  apostle  places  in  the  armour  of  the 
Christian  soldier.  With  this  brazen  or  iron  casque  upon 
his  head,  the  Jewish  warrior  could  stand  unhurt  under  the 
strokes  of  the  brandished  sword,  or  come  out  uninjured 
from  amidst  the  storm  of  arrows.  With  its  *' dazzling 
brightness,  its  horrific  devices  of  gorgons  and  chimeras,  and 
its  nodding  plumes  which  overlooked  the  dreadful  cone," 
his  helmet  struck  terror  into  the  hearts  of  his  enemies. 
Hence  the  apostle  very  properly,  w^hen  pointing  out  to  us 
the  panoply,  designates  the  helmet  as  a  piece  of  armour 
the  Christian  soldier  must  put  on. 

In  the  letter  to  the  Thessalonians,  the  nature  of  this 
helmet  is  more  specially  revealed,  where  we  are  exhorted 
to  take  for  a  helmet  "  the  hope  of  salvation."  Hope,  then, 
is  the  helmet  of  the  Christian  soldier ;  and  as  there  was 
usually  graven  upon  the  ancient  helmet  some  single  word 
or  sentence  as  a  motto,  so  must  the  soldier  of  the  cross 
have  graven  on  his  crest,  as  emblematic  and  descriptive  of 
the  spirit  of  his  warfare,  the  word  "  Hope."  How  aptly 
does  this  brief  motto  set  forth  his  belief  as  to  the  ultimate 
result  of  his  conflicts.  This  good  hope  of  salvation  is 
the  helmet  of  the  gospel  panoply. 

Hope  I  how  beautiful  that  word !  how  expressive  and  sug- 
gestive I     How  hope  paints  the  future  in  bright  and  joyous 

18* 


210     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


colours  I  how  it  speaks  in  the  hour  of  sorrow  and  trial,  of  the 
breaking  away  of  the  storm,  and  the  sunshine  to  come  after! 
How  it  whispers  words  of  cheering  to  the  disconsolate 
mourner ;  and  stands  by  the  side  of  the  labouring  man 
amidst  the  heavy  burden  of  his  overwrought  nature ;  and 
travels  with  the  wayfarer,  telling  him  amidst  the  fatigues 
of  his  journey  of  the  resting-place  at  the  end  ;  and  voyages 
with  the  mariner  pointing  him  to  the  day-streaks  in  the 
skies  after  the  long  and  boisterous  night ;  and  visits  the 
prisoner  in  his  cell  to  whisper  of  broken  chains,  opened 
doors,  and  liberty  regained.  Who  could  inhabit  this  bleak 
world  without  hope  ?  Who  could  live  on  his  lifetime,  eating 
ever  the  bitter  bread,  and  drinking  the  scalding  tears  of 
despair  ?  Woe  to  the  man  in  whose  bosom  the  sweet 
light  of  hope  has  been  extinguished. 

It  is  not  this  common  principle  of  humanity,  however, 
dear  as  it  is,  which  constitutes  the  helmet  of  the  soldier  of 
salvation.  The  Scriptures  tell  us  of  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite 
which  shall  perish ;  of  that  hope  which  maketh  ashamed, 
and  of  those  who  are  confounded  because  they  had  hoped. 
There  are  illusions  of  hope,  as  well  as  realities.  The  way- 
faring man,  lost  in  his  night-travels,  may  mistake  for  the  light 
of  some  human  abode  promising  shelter  and  rest,  the  phan- 
tom which  recedes  before  his  advancing  footsteps  until  it 


THE     HELMET    OF    HOPE.  211 


leads  him  into  the  wild  morass,  and  phmges  him  into  the 
deep  waters  to  perish.  Many  have  been  the  wayfarers  in 
the  night  of  life's  toil,  who  have  thus  followed  the  illusive 
lanterns  of  false  hope,  until  they  have  plunged  into  the  lake 
from  whose  bosom  no  traveller  returns.  We  must  guard 
you  against  availing  yourself  of  false  hopes  in  your  onward 
march  to  eternity.  See  that  you  bind  not  on  your  brows 
such  a  helmet  as  the  enemy's  sword  may  cleave  in  twain, 
or  through  which  his  arrows  may  enter  to  lay  waste  life's 
citadel. 

You  will  beware,  for  instance,  of  taking  for  a  helmet  the 
hope  of  future  repentance.  A  common  refuge  is  this  for  the 
gospel-taught  worldling ; — for  the  man  who  knows  what  his 
duty  requires,  feels  that  he  should  have  an  interest  in  the 
plan  of  redemption,  but  is  yet  so  much  in  love  with  the 
world  that  he  cannot  forsake  it,  and  puts  off  the  great  inte- 
rests of  eternity  to  some  future  and  promised  "  convenient 
season."  Such  a  man  is  not,  indeed,  without  impressions  of 
the  importance  of  a  personal  interest  in  Christ ;  he  has  at 
times  convictions  of  sin  and  a  sense  of  his  danger,  and  knows 
that  without  evangelical  piety  he  cannot  expect  to  die  in 
peace.  Still  he  has  no  apprehension  of  the  beauty  of 
Christ ;  nor  of  the  excellency  of  his  religion,  in  itself  consi- 
dered.    True  piety  is  regarded   by  him  simply  as  a  dire 


213     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


necessity, — the  only  means  of  escape  from  a  more  appalling 
alternative.  Hence  it  is  thought  of  simply  as  a  palliative 
for  the  dying  hour,  or  a  specific  against  the  place  of  tor- 
ment ; — it  is  not  a  thing  for  him  to  live  by,  but  to  die  by. 
Hence,  also,  as  long  as  death  and  perdition  seem  far  away, 
he  pushes  into  the  future  his  intended  repentance,  and  still 
waits  on  for  his  "  convenient  season."  Like  Felix,  he  may 
say,  "  go  thy  way  for  this  time ;"  but  like  Felix  also  he 
wull  say,  "  I  will  call  for  thee."  With  horror  would  he 
shrink  from  the  thought  that  the  long-waited- for  season 
would  never  arrive. 

Now,  beyond  doubt,  this  man  has  buckled  upon  himself 
some  sort  of  a  helmet ;  but  is  it  not  of  necessity  a  vain 
refuge  for  safety  ?  Does  this  piece  of  panoply  guard 
ao;ainst  sin?  Does  it  not  rather  lead  him  to  continue  in 
sin,  because  of  the  abounding  of  grace  ?  Does  it  protect 
against  the  wiles  of  the  devil  ?  Or  does  it  not  rather  rivet 
more  firmly  the  chains  of  his  bondage,  and  lead  him  to  hug 
them  more  closely  and  constantly  to  his  misguided  soul  ? 

We  need  not  resort  to  argument  in  order  to  show  how 
this  hope  of  future  repentance  leads  to  destruction.  I  point 
you  to  facts.  Here  is  a  strong  man,  who,  in  the  spring 
time  of  life,  when  he  walked  under  the  sunlight  which 
gilded  his  path,  was  unwilling,   though  called  by  God's 


THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE.  213 


word  and  his  Spirit,  to  remember  his  Creator  in  the 
days  of  his  youth  ;  and  put  off  to  the  hour  of  maturity  the 
heeding  of  the  voice  divine.  That  mature  hfe  has  come ;  but 
has  the  promised  repentance  also  come  ?  Alas !  the  cares  of 
this  world,  the  deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the  lusts  of  other 
things  now  crowd  upon  him,  until  he  has  no  time  for  the  con- 
cerns of  his  soul ;  and  now  waits  for  the  toils  of  raaturitv  to 
be  exchanged  for  the  "  convenient  season"  of  a  quiet  old  age. 
See  that  old  man,  with  deep  furrows  on  his  cheeks,  his 
locks  whitened  with  the  snows  of  seventy  winters.  As, 
wdth  tottering  footsteps  and  trembling  hand,  he  grasps  his 
staff,  he  seems  but  treading  on  the  utmost  brink  of  life's 
fast-wasting  shores.  Surely  you  would  think  that  old  man 
must  now  be  preparing  for  some  other,  better  world,  to 
take  the  place  of  this  he  is  so  soon  to  leave  ;  death  is  already 
stiffening  his  limbs,  dimming  his  sight,  and  shutting  up  all 
his  senses ; — that  man  will  surely  now  do  the  long-neglected 
work,  and  prepare  for  the  speedy  meeting  with  his  God. 
But  is  this  old  man  an  humble,  pious  Christian?  He 
thought  in  the  toil  of  his  mid-day  strife  he  would  turn  to 
God  in  old  age ;  but  old  age  has  come,  and  brought  with  it 
the  long-cherished  habits  of  neglecting  salvation,  the  inert- 
ness of  spirit,  the  reluctance  to  great  effort,  the  hardness  of 
heart,  and  the  searing  of  conscience  which  make  the  way  to 


214  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


the  cross  a  difBcult  and  repulsive  path  to  hun ;  and  that 
man  of  gray  hairs,  furrowed  cheeks,  bended  frame,  and 
waning  senses,  totters  on  without  repentance  still. 

Look  again  I  In  this  chamber  lies  a  sick  man  on  his 
couch.  But  yesterday  the  bloom  of  youth  was  on  his 
cheek,  or  the  strength  of  stern  manhood  was  in  his  limbs. 
Pallor  has  driven  that  bloom  away ;  strength  has  given 
place  to  helpless  weakness ;  disease  is  doing  its  work ;  he 
is  about  to  die.  You  speak  to  him  of  his  approaching  end, 
and  remind  him  that  he  cannot  die  in  peace  without  the 
Saviour  ;  but  with  the  wild  eye  of  delirium  he  gazes,  heeding 
not  your  words  ;  or,  when  the  delirium  is  past,  his  exhausted 
nature  is  unstrung,  and  racking  pains  have  turned  his  bed 
into  a  place  of  torment,  so  that  he  looks  up  sadly,  and 
exclaims,  "  I  should  have  done  that  work  whilst  I  had 
health  and  strength ;  this  is  no  place  for  doing  the  great 
neglected  business  of  my  life  ;  it  is  too  late  !  Alas  I  I  am 
vmdone !"  And  too  late  it  proves  to  be.  He  is  undone, 
and  that  for  ever  I 

These,  as  you  know  full  well,  are  not  pictures  of  fancy ; 
but  scenes  from  reality.  Here  you  may  learn  what  reli- 
ance can  be  placed  upon  the  hope  of  repentance  at  some 
"  convenient  season."  Here  you  see  this  frail  helmet 
cleft  asunder,  and  the  wretched  victims  who  wore  it  laid 


THE     HELMET    OF    HOPE.  2l0 


low  by  the  delusions  of  that  hope  which  for  ever  makes 
ashamed. 

But  you  must  also  be  guarded  against  wearing  for  a  hel- 
met the  hope  of  being  saved  by  the  mere  general  mercy  of 
God.  "God  is  love,"  cries  a  worldly-minded  or  profligate 
unbeliever.  He  would  not  have  made  his  creatures  just  to 
destroy  them.  He  says,  "I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death 
of  the  wicked  ;"  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  hell ; — and  this 
man  in  some  sense  believes  what  he  says.  Or,  if  he  admits 
the  necessity  of  an  atonement  for  sin,  he  flatters  himself  that 
as  Christ  has  died  for  sinners,  he  also  may  through  this 
general  atonement  come  in  for  exemption  from  the  penalt)^ 
of  the  law.  Hence  his  fears  are  lulled,  conscience  is  silenced, 
and  he  is  disturbed  but  little  with  apprehensions  of  falling 
a  prey  to  the  prince  of  darkness. 

It  would  seem  to  be  a  sufficient  refutation  of  all  objec- 
tions against  the  doctrine  of  future  punishment,  founded 
upon  the  fact  that  God  is  too  merciful  to  inflict  suffering 
on  his  creatures,  that  in  the  very  world  around  us  we  see 
that  God  actually  does  inflict  suffering.  Look  around  ; 
does  not  the  voice  of  sorrow  meet  you  everywhere  ?  Is 
I  not  the  first  breath  with  which  our  poor  humanity  enters 
on  life  a  cry,  and  does  it  not  at  length  breathe  out  that  life's 
last  end  with  a  groan  ?     Are  there  not  for  all  of  us  here. 


216     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


pains,  sickness,  tears,  and  aching  hearts  ?  Is  it  not  appointed 
unto  all  men  once  to  die  ?  In  fact,  is  not  the  whole  world 
hut  as  one  great  hospital,  in  which  there  are  all  manner  of 
sick,  halt,  maimed  and  impotent  folk, — a  great  Bochim,in 
which  are  mingled  the  tears  of  a  household  of  mourners  ? 
How  then  can  you  say  that  God  is  too  merciful  to  inflict 
suffering  on  his  creatures,  when  there  stares  you  in  the  face 
the  fact  that  his  creatures  are  receiving  suffering  at  his 
hands  every  day  ?  You  can  show  no  reason  why  God 
will  not  inflict  suffering  in  the  next  world,  when  you  know  he 
does  in  this.  On  the  contrary, many  reasons  drawn  from 
the  nature  of  every  well-constituted  government  might  be 
adduced  to  warrant  the  presumption  that  there  would  even 
be  a  stronger  necessity  for  a  state  of  suffering  beyond  the 
grave  than  this  side  of  it. 

But  turn  from  the  speculations  of  philosophy  to  the  Bible. 
Does  not  this  word  of  God  which  cannot  lie  declare  that 
there  will  be  a  state  of  punishment  for  the  wicked,  as  well  as 
a  state  of  happiness  for  the  righteous,  and  that  the  one  is  to 
be  equally  endless  with  the  other  ?  If  there  is  to  be  no  pun- 
ishment for  the  wicked  after  death,  what  are  we  to  under- 
stand by  God's  separating  the  sheep  from  the  goats ;  by  his 
driving  those  on  his  left  hand  under  an  awful  sentence  into 
everlasting  fire ;  by   the  worm  that  never  dies, — by   the 


THE     HELMET     OF    HOPE.  237 


flame  which  is  never  quenched, — the  weeping,  wailing,  and 
gnashing  of  teeth, — the  lake  of  fire,  and  the  volumes  of 
torment  which  ascend  up  for  ever  and  ever  ?  These  are  but 
figures  of  speech,  replies  the  deluded  sinner ;  this  language 
docs  not  teach  such  dreadful  things  as  you  affirm ; — and 
with  this  hasty,  ill-founded,  unwarranted  conclusion  in  a 
matter  involving  his  eternal  well-being,  quietly  settles  down 
in  carnal  security,  flattering  himself  that  God  is  too  merci- 
ful to  send  any  to  hell.  Here  is  a  helmet ;  but  alas !  it  is 
a  frail  one.  The  missiles  of  the  devil  and  his  allies  and  the 
fierce  wrath  of  an  angry  God,  will  shatter  it  into  a  thousand 
fragments ;  and  its  wretched  wearer  will  fall  a  prisoner  to 
the  hosts  of  darkness,  because  his  helmet  was  not  the  good 
hope  of  salvation. 

Nor  must  we  pass  from  this  part  of  the  subject  with- 
out warning  you  against  wearing  for  a  helmet  the  hope 
of  being  saved  because  you  are  in  connection  with  the  visi- 
ble church.  Hard  is  it  for  men  to  learn  that  a  mere  pro- 
fession of  religion  is  not  religion  ; — that  there  is  a  wide  dif- 
ference between  being  in  the  church  and  being  in  Christ ; 
and  that  there  shall  be  "many"  who  have  sat  at  the  table 
of  the  Lord  on  earth,  who  shall  be  excluded  from  the  mar- 
riage supper  of  the  Lamb  in  heaven.  In  vain  do  the  Scrip- 
tures define  true  piety   as  of  necessity  showing   itself  in 

19 


218  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


visible  fruits  ;  in  vain  do  God's  ministers  urge  it  upon  the 
people  to  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance ;  in  vain  do 
they  enforce  these  appeals  by  the  love  we  should  bear  our 
ruined  fellow-men,  the  love  of  Christ  our  Saviour,  and  the 
hope  of  reward  in  heaven ; — the  slumbering,  worldly-minded 
professor  cares  for  none  of  these  things.  He  is  not  so  easily 
disturbed  in  his  security ;  he  is  in  the  church,  and  has  been 
there  a  long  time  ;  his  general  life  is  as  consistent  as  that  of 
most  professors  ; — he  sees  no  call  for  such  great  sanctity  ; 
believes  there  is  such  a  thing  as  being  righteous  overmuch ; 
and  perhaps  speaks  of  those  who  in  faithfulness  enforce 
upon  him  a  higher  standard  than  this  mere  outward  cere- 
monial, as  illiberal,  rigid,  sanctimonious,  and  disposed  to 
lord  it  over  other  men's  consciences. 

Now,  here  is  a  helmet ;  and  with  it  clasped  close  upon 
his  brow,  the  deluded  wearer  seems  to  be  a  stranger  to 
wholesome  fears;  he  is  crying, Peace,  peace,  when  there  is 
no  peace.  If  he  cast  not  away  this  spurious  casque,  he  will 
be  cleft  asunder, — for  beyond  doubt  he  wears  not  for  a  hel- 
met the  good  hope  of  salvation. 


THE     HELMET     OF    HOTE.  219 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE     HELMET     OP    HOPE. 

"And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation." 

The  hope  of  the  Christian  has  to  do  with  better  things 
than  those  which  are  confined  within  the  bounds  of  time,  or 
which  derive  their  value  solely  from  the  estimate  put  upon 
them  by  a  mere  grovelling,  earthly  mind.  The  hope  of  the 
worldling,  while  it  lasts,  perhaps  sheds  light  upon  the  dark 
and  troubled  spirit,  turns  sorrow  into  joy,  and  cheers  up  the 
fiunting  heart  by  the  prospect  of  better  things  in  the  as  yet 
unrevealed  future.  But  the  hope  of  the  believer  stands  on  a 
firmer  basis,  rises  higher,  takes  hold  of  better  comforts, 
and  speeds  on  the  footsteps  of  the  pilgrim  soldier  with  the 
prospect  of  far  brighter  joys  to  come,  than  that  mere  com- 
mon principle  which  cheers  universal  humanity  on  its  march 


220  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  The  hope  of  the  believer  has 
been  well  defined  to  be  that  grace  "  whereby,  through 
Christ,  he  expects  and  waits  for  all  those  good  things  of 
the  promise  he  has  not  yet  received." 

The  helmet  of  hope  and  the  shield  of  faith  are  intimately 
connected.  The  two  pieces  of  armour  are  joined  together, 
and  serve  a  purpose  to  each  other,  much  as  their  position 
would  seem  to  separate  them.  Hope  and  faith  are  sister 
graces  of  the  Spirit.  Faith  is  in  some  sense  the  minister  of 
hope.  Had  we  no  faith  in  things  to  come,  how  could  we 
hope  for  them  ?  Hope  has  not  to  do  with  things  present, 
''  for  what  a  man  seeth,  why  does  he  yet  hope  for  ?  Eut 
if  we  hope  for  that  we  see  not,  then  do  we  with  patience 
wait  for  it."  Now,  "  faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped 
for."  Faith  sits  at  home  receiving  the  promise,  whilst  hope 
looks  from  the  lattice  for  the  approach  of  the  blessing. 
Faith  tells  us  the  story  of  good  things  in  reserve,  and  then 
hope  quietly  and  peacefully  expects  them.  Faith  told  God's 
mourning  people  in  the  bondage  of  Egypt  of  a  land  of 
liberty  and  plenty ;  and  in  hope  they  left  their  homes  and 
journeyed  towards  the  promised  Canaan.  So  faith  tells 
the  spiritual  pilgrim,  amidst  the  toils  and  sorrows  of  this 
desert  world,  of  the  better  country  in  reserve,  and  of  the 
deliverances  to  be  wrought  for  him  by  the  way ;  and  in 


THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE.  221 


hope  of  the  promise  he  treads  his  thorny  path  to  the  Canaan 
of  the  skies.  It  is  this  hope  which  makes  the  hehnet  of  the 
Christian  warrior,  inspiring  him  for  every  enterprise,  cheer- 
ing him  under  every  disaster  and  discouragement,  and  ren- 
dering him  steadfast  and  persevering  to  his  journey's  end. 

Let  us  examine  the  qualities  of  the  helmet  of  salvation. 

The    believer's   hope    is   well   founded ;  —  unlike   those 

refuges  of  lies  to  which  your  attention  has  been  called. 

The  Christian  builds  not  upon  the  sandy  foundation,  where, 

when  the  rains  descend,  the  winds  blow,  and  the  storms 

beat,  the  house  must  foil  and  overwhelm  its  occupant  in 

the  ruin.     He  rests  upon  the  solid  rock,  where,  though  the 

rains  do  fall,  and  the  winds  blow,  and  the  storms  beat,  his 

house  still  stands  firm  and  secure.     The  rock  on  which  he 

builds  is  Christ  Jesus.     "  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  says  the 

apostle,  "  who  is  our  hope."     Before  the  foundations  of  the 

world  were  laid,  this  rock  on  which  the  Christian  rests  his 

hopes  was  firmly  fixed  with  that  great  end  in  view.     With 

a  full  perception  of  all  that  was  to  come,  man's  creation, 

temptation,  fall,  the  total  and  hopeless  ruin  in  which  he 

was  to  be  overwhelmed  ;  the  plan  was  devised  and  agreed 

upon  by  which  the  ruins  of  the  fall  should  be  retrieved,  and 

the  wreck  of  humanity  rebuilt  in  the  image  and  favour  of 

God.     The  covenant  of  grace  was  complete.     In  this  cove- 

19* 


222  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


nant  Christ  was  made  the  great  corner-stone  of  the  spiritual 
temple  to  be  reared ;  and  every  successive  block,  brought 
from  the  quarries  of  the  world  and  sin,  by  the  power  of 
grace  divine,  which  was  to  be  added  to  these  uprising 
walls,  was  to  rest  upon  this  great  corner-stone,  Christ 
Jesus. 

And  let  me  ask,  is  not  this  rock,  Christ  Jesus,  a  firm 
foundation  ?  Hear  what  qualities  the  prophet  Isaiah  and 
the  apostle  Peter  have  ascribed  to  this  stone.  He  is  "  elect," 
that  is,  chosen  for  this  express  purpose, — chosen  from 
eternity,  chosen  out  of  all  the  glorious  materials  of  the 
universe  of  God  as  the  most  glorious  of  all,  chosen  with  the 
express  intention  that  on  him  all  the  redeemed  should  rest 
as  the  "hope  of  Israel."  He  is  "a  tried  stone," — not  one 
which  has  to  be  the  subject  of  future  experiments  in  order 
to  test  its  strength  and  durability.  He  has  been  tried 
already;  tried  in  the  first  sacrifice  he  was  called  to  make  in 
laying  aside  his  glory  to  come  on  his  errand  of  love ;  tried 
by  all  the  infirmities  of  our  nature,  hunger,  thirst,  weari- 
ness, weeping ; — tried  in  the  ordeal  of  temptation  from  the 
devil,  and  by  the  derision  and  mockery  of  men ; — tried  in 
the  agonies  of  the  garden,  in  the  forsaking  of  his  friends, 
and  his  betrayal  by  a  professed  follower; — tried  in  the 
shameful  pretence  of  a  legal  conviction  in  the  judgment- 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE.  223 


liall ; — tried  iu  the  sore  conflict  with  the  death  of  the  cross ; 
tried  for  three  days  in  the  silence  of  the  tomb ; — tried  by 
multitudes  who  have  trusted  in  him,  and  through  his  merits 
have  entered  on  the  promised  rest,  and  by  multitudes  more 
as  yet  on  earth,  but  waiting  for  the  promise.  He  is  called 
also  a  "  precious"  stone, — he  is  not  worthless  like  the 
common  rocks  scattered  everywhere  over  the  earth's  surface ; 
but  like  the  rare  and  prized  gem  which  is  always  held  to 
be  precious.  He  is  precious  in  the  eyes  of  his  Father,  being 
his  only  begotten,  w^ell-beloved  Son ;  precious  in  the  sight 
of  angels  who  behold  his  glories  in  the  world  above,  and 
rejoice  to  do  his  bidding ;  precious  to  the  ransomed  throng 
around  his  throne  who  have  been  redeemed  through  his 
blood  ;  and  precious  in  the  hearts  of  all  his  saints  on  earth. 
Here,  then,  on  this  great  rock  of  ages,  chosen,  tried, 
and  precious,  surely  you  wull  not  doubt  that  he  who  has 
forsaken  every  other  refuge,  has  secured  for  his  hope 
a  firm  foundation.  Resting  here,  the  storms  of  life  may 
beat ;  the  wild  surges  wrought  by  the  prince  of  the 
powers  of  the  air  may  dash  and  roar ;  but  unmoved  shaJl 
be  this  rock,  towering  high  above  the  tumult  of  these 
lower  spheres,  and  uphokling  in  safety  the  soldier  of  the 
cross  who  has  here  sought  and  secured  the  foundation  for 
his  hope. 


224  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


The  hope  of  the  Christian  soklier  is  also  reasonable. 
"Be  ready  always,"  says  the  apostle,  "to  give  to  every 
man  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  you.'' 
The  spiritual  warrior  -is  supposed  to  be  a  social  being ;  he 
is  joined  with  others  in  the  march  from  the  city  of  destruc- 
tion to  the  New  Jerusalem ;  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that 
these  wayfaring  warriors,  in  the  midst  of  their  long  jour- 
neyings,  and  their  night-watches,  will  sometimes  question 
each  other  as  to  their  views  and  motives  in  joining  the  ser- 
vice. "  They  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to  an- 
other;"— their  lips  were  not  always  silent  as  to  the  great 
absorbing  object  of  their  souls.  Do  men  that  are  in  the 
hardships  of  martial  life  never  speak  to  each  other  of  the 
lands  they  have  left  behind,  the  dangers  they  have  already 
met,  and  are  still  to  meet ;  or  of  the  laurels  they  are  expect- 
ing to  wear  when  returning  from  the  strife  ?  Do  they 
never  compare  their  weapons,  and  seek,  by  mutual  counsel, 
to  put  their  equipments  into  the  best  possible  condition  ? 
Be  ready,  then,  at  all  times,  to  render  to  your  fellow-sol- 
diers "  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  within  you." 

Or  if  from  the  wicked  and  gainsaying  world  which  opposes, 
there  come  questions  as  to  this  hope  which  has  led  you  to  a 
warfare  with  its  friends,  then  be  ready  here  also  to  assign 
a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  within  you.     It  may  be  that 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE.  225 


some  Rabshakeh  will  come  to  you  saying,  "What  confi- 
dence is  this  wherein  thou  trustest  ?  Thou  sayest,  I 
have  counsel  and  strength  for  the  war.  Now,  on  whom 
dost  thou  trust?"  And  if  amidst  such  reproaches  you  are 
not  able  to  give  a  reason  of  your  hope,  there  will  be  both 
discomfiture  to  yourself  and  triumph  for  the  adversary. 

The  true  Christian  is  a  reasonable  man, — the  most  rea- 
sonable of  all  men.  Whilst  madness  and  folly  are  bound 
up  in  the  hearts  of  his  enemies,  he  acts  under  an  intelligent 
impulse,  as  a  rational  and  accountable  being.  It  has  not 
been  for  a  vain  and  foolish  crusade  that  he  has  left  the 
world  behind  him,  but  because  he  has  good  reason  to  know 
that  the  world,  with  all  the  fashion  thereof,  will  finally 
perish.  He  has  not,  under  some  dire  superstition,  merely 
imagined  himself  a  sinner,  and  in  need  of  a  Saviour ;  but, 
under  the  teachings  of  Him  whose  word  is  truth,  he  has 
learned  how  evil  and  bitter  a  thing  sin  is ;  he  has  felt  in  his 
own  soul  its  power  and  its  curse  ;  he  has  ascertained  that 
all  creature  help  for  him  is  vain ;  and  sorrowing,  smitten, 
helpless  as  he  was,  has  fled  to  the  cross,  and  there  found 
pardon  and  peace  in  believing.  He  has  learned  by  experi- 
ence how  God  can  be  just  and  yet  justify  a  sinner ;  and  in 
this  method  of  justifying  grace  has  found  such  fitness  for  his 
wants,  that  were  there  ten  thousainl   other  ways  of  being 


226  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


saved,  he  would  have  none  but  this.  He  believes  on  suffi- 
cient evidence  the  promises  of  God,  and  waits  for  their  ful- 
filment. He  believes  that  he  must  die,  and  through  the 
mediation  of  Him  who  is  his  high  priest  and  intercessor, 
hopes  for  heaven  beyond  the  grave.  Now,  in  all  this  there 
is  nothing  unreasonable.  He  has  satisfied  himself  of  the 
truths  on  which  his  faith  takes  hold,  and  to  act  otherwise 
than  he  does  upon  such  premises,  would  be  supremely  irra- 
tional. 

But  the  Christian  soldier  can  also  give  a  reason  of  his 
hope  still  more  in  detail  as  to  God's  special  dealings  with 
himself.  His  views  have  reference  not  simply  to  the  plan 
of  salvation  as  a  thing  proposed,  but  as  a  thing  to  himself 
applied.  He  may  not  indeed  be  able  to  tell  the  exact  day 
or  the  hour  when  he  was  brought  from  death  unto  life,-^for 
the  workings  of  grace  in  the  heart  are  not  always  distinct 
and  obvious  to  our  untutored  vision ;  but  he  will  know  that 
the  change  has  taken  place ;  that  he  is  not  as  he  once  was ; 
that  old  things  have  passed  away,  and  all  things  have 
become  new.  He  will  be  able  to  speak  of  his  changed 
views,  changed  tastes,  changed  purposes,  and  changed  life ; 
and  in  thus  doing,  will  be  ready  always  to  give  a  reason 
of  his  hope,  to  every  man  that  asketh  him. 

As  an  example  of  this  readiness  to  give  a  reason  of  the 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE.  227 


Christian's  hope,  see  Paul,  when  arraigned  at  Jerusalem. 
lie  has  been  ruthlessly  driven  from  his  devotions  in  the 
temple ;  around  him  stand  soldiers  and  centurions,  and 
without  howl  the  mob,  thirsting  for  his  blood.  He  is 
"  borne  by  the  soldiers,  for  the  violence  of  the  people." 
And  when  on  the  stairs  of  the  castle  permitted  to  speak  for 
himself,  he  straightway  tells  the  story  of  his  life, — his  faith, 
his  education,  his  piety  according  to  the  law,  his  persecu- 
tion of  the  saints,  his  heavenly  call  from  the  lips  of  the 
crucified  Jesus,  on  the  way  to  Damascus ;  his  acceptance 
of  that  call,  and  espousal  of  the  persecuted  cause ;  and  in 
his  subsequent  arraignment  appeals  to  truths  admitted  by 
his  enemies,  as  he  cries  out,  "  Of  the  hope  and  resurrection 
of  the  dead  am  I  called  in  question."  Paul  was  a  faithful 
soldier.  The  enemy  came  fiercely  upon  him ;  but  he  was  able 
to  give  a  reason  of  his  hope  which  confounded  his  accusers, 
and  he  came  off  a  victor,  because  he  wore  for  his  helmet  the 
reasonable  hope  of  salvation. 

The  hope  of  the  Christian  soldier  has  also  a  good  object 
in  view.  How  vain  are  oftentimes  those  objects  which  call 
out  the  hopes  of  the  worldling.  He  pursues  phantoms, — 
airy  dreams  which  never  will  be  realized  ;  or  his  imagina- 
tion gilds  some  hideous  thing  as  glittering  gold,  which, 
when  possessed,   proves   to   be  but  worthless   dust.     His 


228  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 

hoped-for  good  is  but  like  the  apples  of  Sodom,  which, 
however  beautiful  to  the  eye,  fall  to  ashes  at  the  touch. 

The  difference  between  the  hope  of  the  Christian  and  that 
of  the  sinner,  is  world-wide  in  this,  that  the  Christian  has 
in  his  view  objects  which  are  always  real,  which  never  dis- 
appoint, and  which  are  of  immortal  value.  What  he  hopes 
for  in  the  exercise  of  his  spiritual  faculties,  is  good,  only 
good,  and  always  good.  Well  may  it  therefore  be  termed 
"  a  good  hope."  Take  for  instance,  deliverance  from  sin  ; — 
for  this  the  believer  hopes ;  is  not  this  deliverance  a  good 
thing  ?  What  is  sin  but  that  which  is  offensive  in  the  sight 
of  God  and  of  all  holy  beings,  but  that  which  drove  angels 
from  heaven,  but  that  which  has  filled  the  world  with  sor- 
row and  death,  but  that  which  has  provoked  the  curse  of  an 
angry  God,  and  built  the  prison  of  hell ;  surely  there  can  be 
no  more  desirable  object  than  deliverance  from  so  appalling 
an  evil.  Daily  does  the  Christian  soldier  breathe  the  prayer 
taught  by  the  lips  of  the  Saviour,  "  Lead  me  not  into  temp- 
tation, but  deliver  me  from  evil." 

"His  grief  and  burden  long  has  been, 
Because  he  could  not  cease  from  sin." 

But  faith  has  taught  him  that  for  those  who  in  patience 
and  perseverance  are  striving  for  the  victory  over  a  corrupt 


THE     HELMET    OF    HOPE.  229 


nature,  there  will  be  deliverance.  He  humbly  trusts  that 
in  such  patient  and  perseverant  use  of  all  appointed  means 
he  is  struggling  for  the  victory;  and  hope  tells  him  that 
the  promised  deliverance  will  in  due  time  be  his,  that  he 
shall  at  last  tread  his  old  enemy  under  his  feet,  shake  ofl' 
the  remnants  of  his  corrupt  nature,  and  stand  forth  disen- 
thralled, the  sinless  tenant  of  a  sinless  world. 

The  hope  of  the  Christian  soldier  still  further  cm- 
braces  as  its  object  deliverance  from  the  pains  of  hell ; — and 
is  not  such  deliverance  a  good  thing  ?  Who  would  wish  to 
be  banished  for  ever  from  the  presence  of  God,  to  dwell  in 
outer  darkness,  to  make  his  bed  in  flames  of  fire  through  an 
eternal  night,  to  feel  for  ever  the  fangs  of  the  worm  that 
never  dies,  to  be  the  companion  of  the  devil  and  his  angels 
and  take  part  in  the  horrid  dissonance  of  their  perpetual  wail- 
ings  ?  True,  the  wicked  and  ungodly  seem  to  court  hell  as 
their  portion,  and  continue  to  walk  in  the  broad  road  which 
leads  directly  to  its  gates,  and  disregard  all  warnings  as  to 
their  fast-hastening  doom  ;  but  still,  it  cannot  be  that  they 
go  to  that  "  lone  land  of  dark  despair,"  because  they  be- 
lieve that  there  they  will  satisfy  the  oft-repeated  question 
of  their  souls,  "  Who  will  show  us  any  good."  Alas  !  poor 
infatuated  worldlings,  they   are    beguiled    by  the   present 

seeming  joys  of  the  way,  whilst  they  forget  the  sorrow  of 

20 


230  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


its  end ;  they  are  enamored  of  the  present  and  put  far  off 
the  future,  and  will  not  consider  whither  their  rapid  steps 
are  tending. 

The  Christian  is  a  thoughtful  man,  he  has  weighed 
well  the  present  and  the  future  too ;  he  knows  that 
there  is  a  reaping  as  well  as  a  sowing,  and  that  he  that 
"  soweth  to  the  flesh  shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corruption." 
Hence,  although  the  fear  of  hell  was  not  the  leading  motive 
which  made  him  a  servant  of  his  Heavenly  Master,  nor  is 
the  prevailing  influence  which  speeds  his  footsteps  onward  in 
the  march ;  yet  he  cannot  forget  that  there  is  a  world  of  end- 
less sorrow,  nor  that  by  nature  he  was  a  culprit  "  condemned 
already."  Often  when  in  the  way  of  transgressors  have  its 
terrors  come  upon  him  as  if  to  torment  him  before  the  time  ; 
often  have  its  dark  scenes  sprung  up  in  the  turmoil  of  life 
with  more  Rightfulness  than  the  night-dreams  of  a  disor- 
dered mind.  Remembering  "  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  he 
has  been  digged,"  he  can  but  remember  also  the  bottomless 
pit  whence  he  has  been  rescued ;  and  no  unwelcome  thought 
is  it  to  him,  that  his  footsteps  have  been  turned  by  grace 
divine  from  the  road  that  leads  to  death,  that  for  him  the 
wide  gate  no  longer  yawns,  the  lurid  fires  and  the  devil  and 
his  angels  no  longer  wait.  He  has  a  hope  and  a  good  hope 
that  he  shall  be  delivered  from  the  pains  of  hell. 


THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE.  231 


But  his  hope  also  embraces  the  divine  principle  that  all 
present  evils  shall  issue  for  him  in  real  good.  In  this  world 
he  does,  indeed,  share  those  sorrows  which  are  the  common 
appointment  of  humanity.  He  did  not  anticipate  exemp- 
tion from  these  ills,  in  taking  up  the  cross ;  but  having 
counted  the  cost,  rather  counted  on  an  accumulation  of  his 
trials  because  of  the  warfare  in  which  he  enlisted.  He 
knew  that  this  very  warfare  would  bring  out  against  him 
fresh  enemies,  that  the  straight  and  narrow  way  would  lead 
him  through  a  hostile  country,  where  he  must  lay  down 
every  thing  to  escape  with  his  life,  and  that  the  very  Master 
whom  he  served  would  find  it  necessary  to  march  him 
through  an  ordeal  of  discipline,  in  order  to  fit  him  both  for 
the  service,  and  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  final  victory. 
But  knowing  these  things,  well  also  does  he  know  that  all 
ills  which  might  be  encountered  would  be  turned  to  joys  in 
the  end  for  him ;  that  the  adverse  winds  w^ould  but  drive 
him  off  from  sunken  rocks  and  wild  lee-shores,  and  that 
though  his  voyage  might  thus  seem  more  circuitous  and 
tedious,  yet,  in  the  result,  it  would  be  all  the  safer.  Faith, 
hope's  sister,  has  whispered  to  his  heart  that  the  Master 
*'  maketh  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  God,  and  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose;"  and 
amidst  all  seeming  ills,  hope  remembers  that  promise,  and 


232  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


waits  for  the  approach  of  the  good  when  the  present  evil 
shall  have  accomplished  its  work.  The  skies  may  be 
clouded  and  stormy,  but  hope  looks  out  for  the  rainbow, 
the  bright  sky  and  the  purer  atmosphere  after  the  storm. 
Sickness  and  sorrows,  doubts  and  fears  may  weigh  heavy 
on  the  spirit ;  but  hope  still  waits  for  "  the  peaceable  fruits 
of  rio;hteousness"  which  shall  come  after  these  afflictions 
which  are,  for  the  present,  "  grievous." 

Now,  is  not  this  hopeful  and  always  hoping  condition  of 
the  Christian  soldier,  a  thing  to  be  desired  ?  Who  would 
not  almost  envy  the  lot  of  him,  who,  however  heavy  might 
be  his  present  burdens,  was  always  confidently  believing 
that  they  were  working  for  him  good  ;  and  patiently  bearing 
the  burdens  whilst  he  waited  for  the  promised  blessings  ? 
How  sweet  amidst  the  scenes  of  this  sad  life  to  be  ever 
cheered  on  with  the  assurance  that  though  "  weeping  may 
endure  for  a  night,  joy  cometh  in  the  morning." 

But  you  must  not  omit  to  notice  also,  as  another  element 
embraced  in  the  object  of  the  Christian  soldier's  hope, — a 
conformity  to  the  image  of  Christ.  From  the  first  he  has 
known  that  the  possession  of  this  image  was  indispensable 
to  true  soldiership ;  and  but  for  evidence  that  he  has  been 
in  some  measure  transformed  into  this  image,  he  could  not 
hope  to  be  called  a  follower  of  his  espoused  Master.     But 


THE     HELMET     OF    HOPE.  233 


I 


this  image  is  imperfect.  Its  lineaments  are,  indeed,  upon 
the  heart  and  life ;  but  these  are  often  dimmed  by  contact 
with  the  world  and  sin.  He  longs  for  a  greater  likeness  to 
the  great  pattern  divine. 

True,  it  is  no  small  matter  to  be  delivered  from  sin  and 
from  hell,  and  to  be  assured  that  all  life's  seeming  ills  are 
working  for  his  welfare ;  but  much  as  are  prized  these 
blessings,  the  Christian  heart  sighs  for  a  yet  higher  good, — 
transformation  into  the  more  perfect  image  of  Jesus. 

Now  to  the  true  Christian,  this  Christ-like  transformation 
is  not  only  a  thing  desired,  it  is  a  thing  hoped  for.  The 
believer  knows  that  "  he  that  hath  begun  a  good  work  in 
him  will  carry  it  on  imtil  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ;"  that  as 
truly  as  he  is  a  Christian,  so  truly  is  the  will  of  God  his 
sanctification,  and  that  whilst  by  faith  he  beholds  the  great 
exemplar,  he  shall  be  transformed  into  his  image,  until  at  last 
when  he  sees  him  as  he  is,  he  shall  be  perfectly  like  him. 

And  tell  me  what  better  thing  could  be  desired  than  a 
likeness  to  Christ?  Where  will  you  find  a  pattern  so 
excellent  ?  where  a  spirit  so  much  to  be  imitated  ?  Where 
more  heavenly  virtues  than  meekness,  gentleness,  long- 
suffering,  goodness,  truth,  holiness,  harmlessness,  and  a 
nature  undefiled  ? 

But  the  Christian  soldier's  hope  stops  not  within  the 

20* 


234     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS 


bounds  of  time.  It  is  far-reaching  as  eternity  ;  and  in  that 
vast  world  which  stretches  out  beyond  the  grave,  lies  the 
goal  of  all  his  expectations.  Being  delivered  from  sin,  he 
wishes  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  sin ;  being  rescued  from 
hell,  he  longs  to  be  in  that  happy  state  where  its  terrors 
are  unknown ;  believing  that  all  seeming  evil  shall  accom- 
plish good,  he  is  waiting  for  the  full  results  of  that  ordeal 
of  discipline  and  trial,  where  discipline  and  trial  shall  be 
no  longer  needed ;  and  being  like  unto  Christ,  he  longs  to 
be  near  Christ,  to  be  with  Christ,  to  hear  his  voice,  to  see 
his  face,  to  shout  his  praise,  and  dwell  with  him  where 
he  shall  go  no  more  out  for  ever. 

Sweet  is  the  thought  to  the  soldier  amidst  his  long 
march  under  burning  skies,  or  his  day  of  hard- fought 
battles,  that  there  shall  come  the  evening's  shades, when  he 
may  cast  aside  his  armour  and  lay  him  down  to  rest,  no 
more  parched  by  burning  suns  nor  disturbed  by  resistant 
foes.  The  hope  of  rest  when  the  day  is  over  cheers  the 
ploughman  in  his  field,  and  all  the  labourers  of  earth 
amidst  their  many  toils ;  and  the  hope  that  "  there  remaineth 
a  rest  for  the  people  of  God," — a  rest  where  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  find  repose,  cheers  the 
drooping  spirit  of  the  wayfaring  soldier  of  salvation  amidst 
the  hardships  of  his  service  here ;   and  the  thought  that 


THE     HELMET    OF    HOPE.  235 


these  hardships  \vill  all  soon  be  over,  makes  him  bear  them 
with  courage  and  quietness  whilst  they  last.  So  that  you 
perceive  that  in  various  aspects,  the  believer's  hope  has  for 
its  object,  not  the  vain,  delusive  day-dreams  of  the  children 
of  this  world ;  but  real  good,  substantial  good,  good  unal- 
loyed and  good  enduring.  Who  would  not  wish  to  put  on 
the  helmet  of  hope  ? 


236  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE, 

"  And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation." 

John  Bunyan  tells  us  that  he  saw  in  his  dream  "that 
Christian  went  not  forth  alone,  for  there  was  one  whose 
name  was  Hopeful,  who  joined  himself  unto  him,  and  enter- 
ing into  a  brotherly  covenant,  told  him  that  he  would  be 
his  companion ;"  and  though  Hopeful  may  at  times  have 
been  too  sanguine,  and  too  ready  to  look  on  the  bright  side 
of  all  they  encountered,  yet  he  continued  the  companion  of 
Christian  even  to  the  castle  of  Giant  Despair,  and  with 
Christian  at  last  crossed  "the  river."  Now,  this  Hopeful, 
who  was  the  companion  of  the  pilgrim  Christian,  is  also  the 
companion  of  the  soldier  Christian,  as  you  have  already 
seen,  and  in  some  other  aspects  which  we  will  do  well  to 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE.  237 


consider.  The  soldier  of  the  cross  never  parts  company 
finally  with  his  helmet  hope,  until  he  has  also  parted  com- 
pany with  his  warfare ; — and  this  leads  to  the  remark  that 

The  hope  of  the  Christian  soldier  is  steadfest,  "  Which 
hope,"  says  Paul,  "we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,both 
sure  and  steadfast."  We  freely  admit  that,  practically, 
the  Christian's  hope  is  not  always  as  steadfast  as  it  should 
be,  or  as  it  might  be.  The  hopes  of  most  believers  are  ex- 
tremely fluctuating.  The  infirmities  of  our  physical  nature 
have  much  to  do  with  shutting  out  the  light  of  hope  from 
the  soul.  We  are  beings  of  a  twofold  organization,  and 
the  physical  and  spiritual  man  have  an  intimate  relation. 
A  diseased  or  wearied  body  may  make  a  dull  and  beclouded 
mind.  Not  a  few  of  the  eminent  saints  of  God  have  suf- 
fered sad  and  long  eclipses  of  their  hope  from  the  influence 
of  a  morbid  state  of  health.  Then,  also,  relapses  into  sin, 
neglect  of  known  duty,  want  of  spirituality  in  the  devo- 
tions of  the  closet,  and  other  causes  may  bring  clouds  over 
the  face  of  hope.  Even  Hopeful,  Christian's  companion, 
fell  once  into  the  castle  of  Giant  Despair. 

But  these  temporary  fluctuations  of  the  believer's  hope 
do  not  destroy  it.  Whatever  may  be  the  depressions  of  the 
Christian,  in  the  main,  and  through  his  life,  he  still  has  a 
hope  through  grace  in  Christ   Jesus.     He  has  it  in  his 


238     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


youth,  in  his  manhood,  in  his  old  age.  He  has  it  beaming 
brightly  upon  him  at  least  at  intervals  all  his  journey 
through.  It  is  a  permanent,  abiding,  never  to  be  destroyed 
principle  whilst  he  sojourns  here  below.  It  is  a  hope  sure 
in  its  results,  and  steadfast  to  the  end ;  and,  as  we  shall 
presently  see,  may  become,  by  long  experience,  far  more 
than  at  first,  a  constantly  realized  principle  of  the  soul. 

"Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor."  The  apostle  here 
leaves  the  martial,  and  takes  up  the  beautiful  maritime 
imagery.  He  looks  upon  the  heliever  as  a  mariner,  with 
his  bark  launched  upon  life's  tempestuous  ocean,  where  he 
must  sail  on  boisterous  seas,  over  sunken  rocks,  and  under 
beetling  lee-shores  ; — where  danger  will  come  in  the  light- 
ning's flash  and  the  fierce  rush  of  the  billows,  the  wild 
howl  of  the  winds,  or  the  loud  thunder  of  the  breakers' 
roar ;  and  thus  launched,  gives  him  hope  for  his  anchor. 
So  that  though  the  spiritual  mariner  may  be  oft  in  "  perils 
by  the  sea,"  he  need  but  cast  his  anchor  over  the  bows  of 
his  bark,  and  then  say  to  his  fears,  "Be  still."  For,  unlike 
the  anchorage  ground  of  sand  and  mud,  to  which  this 
world's  voyagers  must  trust ;  this  anchor  of  the  Christian's 
bark  reaches  far  within  the  veil,  taking  hold  of  the  rock 
which  has  been  cleft  for  its  entrance ;  and,  thus  secured,  he 
will  outride  the  storms  of  his  passage,  and  at  last  safely 


THE     HELMET    OP    HOPE.  239 


bring  up  in  the  haven  of  eternal  peace.     His  anchor  is  sure 
and  steadfast. 

Just  now,  however,  it  may  be  well  for  you  to  observe 
that  this  Christian  warrior's  helmet  of  hope  is  efficient  and 
operative.  It  is  called  by  the  apostle  "  a  lively  hope ;" 
— it  is  not  a  thing  dead  and  unproductive.  It  is  said  to 
"  work,"  and  work  by  love,  purifying  the  heart,  and  over- 
coming the  world.  You  have  already  been  warned  against 
putting  on  for  a  helmet  that  vain,  inoperative  hope,  which 
brings  forth  no  sanctifying  fruits  in  the  life.  Hope,  in  its 
very  nature,  is  an  active  principle.  It  is  the  great  main- 
spring of  all  human  conduct.  Take  away  all  hope  from 
the  human  heart,  and  the  poor  unfortunate  sits  down  in 
listless  despair,  unfit  to  act  his  part  in  any  of  the  concerns 
of  mortal  life.  The  hope  of  distinction  inspires  the  ambi- 
tious man  for  the  long  years  of  toil  which  lie  between  him 
and  the  goal  of  his  desires.  The  hope  of  wealth  makes  the 
merchant  and  tradesman  patient  and  untiring  in  his  arduous 
and  perplexing  pursuits.  The  hope  of  large  stores  of 
learning  leads  the  student  to  deny  himself  the  charms  of 
society,  to  burn  his  midnight  lamp,  prematurely  to  bring 
pallor  to  his  cheek,  as  with  assiduous  care  he  pores  over 
his  numerous  tomes.  The  hope  of  once  more  greeting  the 
loved  ones   of  his  home,  speeds    on   the  wayforing   man 


240  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


through  all  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  his  journey. 
Now,  should  not  that  highest  and  holiest  of  all  hopes  which 
inspires  the  soldier  of  the  cross,  in  like  manner  quicken  his 
footsteps,  embolden  his  heart,  nerve  his  arm  and  fire  his 
zeal,  so  that  he  shall  march  with  a  quicker  step  upon  that 
way  which  leads  him  to  his  celestial  home,  to  his  exhaust- 
less  stores  of  knowledge,  to  his  imperishable  treasures  of 
wealth,  to  his  crown  of  immortal  honour  ? 

The  racers  in  the  ancient  games  were  running  for  a  crown ; 
and  a  happy  thought  is  that  which  sets  forth  the  Christian- 
warrior  as  fighting  for  a  crown.  Far  before  the  racer, 
away  in  the  distance  was  his  laurel  crown ;  and  far  before 
the  warrior — away  from  his  battle-strife — away  above  his 
tedious  march,  may  hang  his  crown.  But  his  crown  is 
there,  and  by  faith  he  sees  it;  and  hope  looks  out  for  it,  and 
looking  is  inflamed  with  the  desire  to  wear  it;  and  under 
the  impulse  of  this  strong  desire,  he  marches  on  with  ever 
quickening  footsteps,  waiting  for  his  crown. 

Think  not  to  get  the  crown,  reader,  unless  your  hope  for 
it  impels  your  footsteps  in  the  straight  and' narrow  way. 
Think  not  to  get  the  crown  except  your  hope  for  it  is  puri- 
fying your  heart  from  the  remains  of  sin,  and  leading  you 
to  overcome  the  world.  Let  the  hope  for  more  of  the 
knowledge  of  God   and   larger  supphts  of  his  grace  lead 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE.  241 


you  to  seek  for  these  blessings.  Let  your  hope  for  deliver- 
ance from  sin  and  temptation  impel  you  to  resist  and  watch 
against  all  evil ;  let  the  hope  that  your  prayers  for  the 
salvation  of  those  dear  to  you,  but  still  dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins,  may  be  answered,  lead  you  to  pray  that  they 
may  be  quickened  into  spiritual  life ;  and  let  your  hope 
for  the  coming  of  Christ's  kingdom  enlarge  your  heart  for 
liberal  offerings  of  your  gold  and  silver,  for  self-denial,  and 
for  service  to  hasten  on  the  glorious  day. 

Let  your  hope  for  the  crown  inspire  your  soul  to  "lay 
aside  every  weight  and  the  sins  which  so  easily  beset  you, 
and  to  run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  you,  looking 
unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the 
joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the 
shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the  right-hand  of  the  throne  of 
God."  "  The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord,  neither  he 
that  is  sent,  than  he  that  sent  him."  Remember  the  joy  that 
is  set  before  you ;  shake  off  your  slothfulness  and  carnal  ease ; 
be  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work ;  endure,  if  need  be, 
the  shame,  and  bear,  if  need  be,  the  cross ;  and  you  will 
thus  show  both  to  yourself  and  to  others,  that  upon  your 
brow  is  bound  the  helmet  of  the  faithful  soldier,  that  its 
inspiring,  soul-cheering  power  is  upon  you,  that  emblazoned 

on  your  crest  is  the  glorious  motto  "  Hope." 

21 


242     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


Although  we  have  tarried  so  long  in  the  survey  of  this 
piece  of  the  panoply,  we  must  further  remark  that  it  may  be 
your  privilege  to  know  that  this  helmet  is  yours.  There  is 
such  a  thing  as  the  "hope  of  assurance."  "And  we  desire 
that  every  one  of  you,"  says  the  apostle,  "  do  show  the 
same  diligence  to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  unto  the  end." 
He  does  not  limit  the  hope  of  assurance  to  the  privileged 
few,  but  sets  it  forth  as  a  thing  attainable  by  "  every  one," 
who  is  truly  enlisted  in  the  armies  of  salvation.  If  within 
the  bosom  of  the  warrior  the  flame  of  hope  burns  dim,  and 
its  light  is  oftentimes  eclipsed,  this  is  not  because  of  any 
essential  defect  in  the  nature  of  the  grace,  nor  of  any 
unwillingness  to  brighten  that  flame  on  the  part  of  him  who 
kindled  it,  but  of  the  soldier  himself,  who  has  failed  to  give 
that  diligence  which  is  requisite  in  attaining  the  faith  of 
assurance. 

We  do  not  hold,  indeed,  that  an  assured  hope  is  in 
all  cases  a  thing  which  will  be  of  easy  attainment  at 
the  outset  of  the  Christian  life.  The  babe  in  Christ 
will  oftentimes  be  overtaken  with  sore  doubts  and  fears. 
The  nature  of  the  spiritual  conflict  is  as  yet  but 
imperfectly  comprehended ;  and  the  untutored  heart  will 
often  be  shaken  at  first  by  what  a  larger  experience 
will   show     are    but    a   part    of  the   inseparable   difficul- 


THE     HELMET    OF     HOPE,  24 


o 


ties    of  the   warfare,    and    for    all    which    grace   will    be 
sufficient. 

Some  there  are,  who  teach  that  if  a  man  have  this  hope  at 
all,  he  can  but  be  aware  of  its  possession ; — that  if  he  be  a 
Christian  he  must  know  that  he  is  a  Christian.  Now  we 
grant  that  if  a  man  have  a  hope,  he  will  usually  know  that 
fact.  But  is  this  hope  a  valid  one  ?  May  he  not  be  trusting 
to  some  false  foundation  ?  The  question  with  the  doubting- 
believer  is  not  whether  he  has  not  a  hope,  but  it  is  whether 
he  has  the  good  hope ; — and  herein  lies  the  scene  of  those 
distressing  apprehensions  which  so  often  shut  out  for  a  time 
the  hope  of  assurance.  The  warrior  may  know  that  he 
wears  upon  his  brow  a  helmet ;  but  does  he  always  certainly 
know  that  this  is  the  helmet  which  comes  from  the  armory 
divine  ? 

But  whilst,  at  the  outset  of  the  soldiership,  doubts  may 
naturally  arise  as  to  the  genuineness  of  the  metal  of  the 
helmet ;  and  though  indolence  and  neglect  of  proper  atten- 
tion to  keeping  it  in  order,  may  lead  with  many  to  the 
recurrence  of  these  doubts  all  through  the  march ;  yet  we 
do  contend  that  this  need  not  of  necessity  always  exist, 
and  that  where  the  Christian  lives  up  to  his  duty  and  his 
privileges,  he  will  not  always  remain  in  distressing  uncer- 
tainty as  to  his  state  of  acceptance. 


244  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


So  common  is  it  for  professing  Christians  to  spend 
their  time  in  Doubting  Castle,  that  being  there  is  con- 
sidered by  many  as  an  indispensable  evidence  to  our 
being  on  pilgrimage  at  all.  These  are  low  views  of 
the  high  vocation  of  the  sons  of  God  ;  the  Master  whom 
we  serve  does  not  require  that  we  shall  be  all  our  lifetime 
in  bondage  to  gloomy  doubts  and  fears.  In  his  view  it 
adds  nothing  to  the  efficiency  of  his  soldiers  that  they 
should  be  all  the  while  more  or  less  at  a  loss  to  knov/ 
whether  or  not  they  were  in  his  service  at  all.  He  will 
have  "  every  one"  of  them  attain  the  full  assurance  of  hope, 
that  being  fully  persuaded  in  their  own  minds  as  to  who 
they  are  and  what  they  are,  they  may  go  forth  with 
confidence  and  whole-heartedness  to  his  service. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  this  assurance  is  not  designed  for 
the  indolent  and  loitering.  Such  sluggards  ought  not  to 
have  a  confidence  of  their  calling,  for  they  do  not  manifest 
the  spirit  of  that  vocation.  A  low  standard  of  piety  gives 
no  warrant  to  appropriate  the  assurance  of  hope ;  and  if  you 
will  live  in  conformity  to  the  world,  and  in  neglect  of  your 
privileges,  you  must  be  content  still  also  to  wear  the  bond- 
age of  doubts.  In  such  circumstances,  it  is  well  that  you 
should  doubt.  If  amidst  the  claims  which  are  upon  you, 
amidst  such  imperative  commands  from  the  Master,  such 


THE    HELMET    OF    HOPE.  245 


calls  from  the  church,  from  a  dying  world,  and  from  your 
own  soul,  and  amidst  your  numerous  and  solemn  vows  of 
entire  consecration,  you  can  still  live  on  as  a  mere  cold- 
hearted  formalist,. or  hanger-on  of  the  camp,  you  ought  to 
doubt  whether  or  not  you  have  not  entirely  deceived  your- 
self; — you  have  no  right  to  the  hope  of  assurance.  But  if, 
with  humble  devotion,  constant  self-denial,  and  ready  obe- 
dience, you  are  striving,  from  a  clear  conscience,  and  a  pure 
heart,  to  do  the  will  of  Him  who  has  called  you,  then  it  is 
your  privilege  to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure,  and 
you  should  look  and  pray  for  that  entire  confidence  which 
is  attained  by  some  of  the  children  of  the  kingdom.  For 
there  are  those  whose  skies  are  seldom  clouded,  whose 
sense  of  acceptance  is  seldom  weakened,  to  whom  the  wit- 
ness of  the  Spirit  is  habitually  present,  and  who  can  say, 
"I  know  that  ray  Redeemer  liveth;  I  know  whom  I  have 
believed,  and  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  com- 
mitted to  him  till  that  day ;" — who  ever  wear  upon  their 
brows  the  bright  helmet  of  the  hope  of  assurance. 

We  need  only  observe  further,  that  the  helmet  of  hope  is 
strengthened  and  brightened  by  experience.  "  We  glory 
in  tribulation  also,"  says  the  apostle,  "  knowing  that  tribu- 
lation worketh  patience  ;  and  patience  experience  ;  and  ex- 
perience hope ;  and  hope  raaketh  not  ashamed."     It  is  the 

21* 


246  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


nature  of  successful  experience  to  impart  confidence.  You 
may  have  apprehensions  as  to  the  safety  of  the  vessel  in 
which  you  are  embarked  on  an  ocean  voyage,  or  of  the 
skill  of  its  master,  until  you  have  been  in  that  vessel  time 
after  time,  when  the  tempest  was  sweeping  the  face  of  the 
deep,  and  seen  how,  with  sleepless  vigils,  that  master  kept 
his  good  ship  always  in  trim,  and  trained  his  men  to  stand  to 
their  posts  in  every  time  of  peril;  and  then,  trusting  in 
God.  you  can  lie  down  and  sleep  in  peace,  even  though 
the  wild  surges  are  beating,  or  the  hurricane  howling 
without.  The  man  who  has  just  embarked  in  commer- 
cial pursuits  may  for  a  time  be  perplexed  as  to  his  every 
investment;  but  when  at  last  he  has  seen  that  each  opera- 
tion has  brought  back  a  successful  return,  he  has  acquired 
confidence  in  his  judgment,  and  now  discards  anxiety ;  for 
experience  has  given  him  hope.  Or  the  soldier,  when  but 
a  novice  in  warfare,  may  quail  at  the  battle-sound,  and  fear 
both  for  himself  and  his  leader ;  but  when,  at  the  command 
of  that  general,  he  has  marched  into  a  hundred  battle-fields, 
and  borne  victory  from  all,  he  now  hears  the  tocsin  but  as 
the  prelude  to  victory,  and  fearlessly  bares  his  bosom  to  the 
storm  of  the  battle.     Experience  has  given  him  hope. 

So  also  is   it  with   the   soldier  of  the   cross.      When 
but  a  novice  in  grace,  he  has  shaken  at  the  sound  of  a 


THE    HELMET    OF     HOPE.  247 


leaf;  often  has  he  looked  upon  the  signal  of  coming  strife 
but  as  his  speedy  death-doom; — but  when,  through  long 
years,  he  has  been  accustomed  to  the  din  of  the  conflict, 
and  from  its  tumult  has  always  come  off  conqueror;  when  he 
has  seen  the  stroke  of  a  thousand  swords  fall  harmless  on  his 
crest ;  he  has  learned  to  meet  undismayed  the  approaching 
strife, — his  hope  has  acquired  confidence,  his  helmet  has 
been  brightened  and  strengthened  by  successful  experience. 
Thus  have  you  seen  the  veteran  in  the  armies  of  Christ, 
whose  bronzed  cheek,  hard-worn  visage,  and  gray  hairs, 
tell  of  his  many  battles  ;  standing  firm  and  undaunted,  even 
though  persecution  was  kindling  its  fires,  or  worldliness 
scattering  abroad  its  too  successful  bribes,  or  temptation 
and  sorrow  coming  down  like  a  storm ;  because,  having 
been  through  all  these  oftentimes  before,  he  knows  the 
worst,  and  knows  that  this  worst  need  have  no  terrors  for 
him; — "that  even  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail"  against 
him;  that  "no  weapon  formed  against  Zion  shall  prosper." 
His  helmet  has  been  strengthened  by  experience. 

Reader,  do  you  not  wish  to  wear  this  glorious  piece  of 
panoply  ?  Do  you  not  need  a  well-grounded,  operative, 
assured  hope  of  final  salvation  to  cheer  you  in  your  war- 
fare? Do  you  not  wish  to  wear  upon  your  brow  that 
helmet  which  no  hostile  strokes  can  ever  shatter  ?     Then, 


248  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


amidst  your  putting  on  the  armour,  omit  not  the  helmet  of 
hope.  Fail  not  to  secure  that  which  will  be  to  you  a  sure 
defence  in  every  time  of  danger ;  a  solace  in  every  hour  of 
sorrow ;  a  harbinger  of  a  brighter  day  in  every  season  of 
clouds  and  tempests;  and  which  will  enable  you  to  go 
cheerfully  and  prosperously  all  your  journey  through,  until 
at  last  you  shall  have  reached  that  goal  where  hope  shall 
be  exchanged  for  fruition, — w^here  the  helmet  shall  give 
place  to  the  crown. 


THE     SAVORD    OF    THE    WORD.  249 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD. 


"  And  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God." 

The  apostle  has  already  shown  us  a  panoply  with  ap- 
pointments for  the  entire  person  of  the  warrior  ; — a  girdle  for 
the  loins,  a  breastplate  for  the  bosom,  sandals  for  the  feet 
and  legs,  a  helmet  for  the  head,  and  a  shield  as  a  safe- 
guard for  the  whole  man.  Thus  mailed,  the  soldier  is 
equipped  as  fully  as  need  be  for  mere  defensive  warfare. 
But  he  must  also  be  provided  with  a  destructive  weapon, 
with  which,  when  attacked,  to  slay  his  enemies,  and  which 
will  enable  him  to  do  aggressive  service  in  pushing  forward 
the  triumphs  of  the  cross.  The  ancient  soldier  was  fur- 
nished with  darts,  spear  and  sword,  but  the  Christian  sol- 


250  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE    CROSS. 


dier  is  supplied  with  the  sword  only ; — a  good  and  trusty 
weapon,  which  in  skilful  hands  will  do  service  sufficient. 

In  the  passage  before  us,  the  apostle  declares  the  sword 
of  the  Christian  warrior  to  be  "the  word  of  God;" — and  the 
metal  of  that  sword  is  shown  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
where  the  word  is  said  to  be  "  quick  and  powerful,  and 
sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the 
dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and 
marrow,  and  is  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of 
the  heart."  Our  Lord  himself  is  assigned  the  title  of  "  the 
Word,"  yet  it  is  obvious  that  in  this  connection  the  apostle 
is  directing  us  to  the  revelation  made  by  and  through  Christ 
as  an  implement  of  aggressive  warfare.  The  Bible  is  the 
sword  of  the  Christian  warrior. 

And  surely,  reader,  you  could  not  ask  for  a  more  efficient 
sword  than  this,  when  you  remember  that  beyond  all  rea- 
sonable doubt  it  is  a  weapon  of  divine  origin.  Whatever 
skeptics  may  affirm  as  to  the  insufficiency  of  the  testimony, 
by  which  the  claims  of  the  Scriptures  to  be  a  revelation  from 
God  are  sustained,  I  am  persuaded  that  after  having  care- 
fully considered  its  credentials,  you  cannot  discard  them  as 
defective.  These  claims  being  established  by  several  dis- 
tinct lines  of  testimony,  each  in  itself  conclusive,  derive  from 
their  concurrent  weight   an  accumulation  of  evidence  such 


THE     SAVORD     OF    THE     WORD.  251 


as  can  be  adduced  in  favour  of  no  other  volume ;  and  such 
as  might  seem  to  be  wholly  irresistible  to  any  candid  mind. 

That  the  sacred  books  were  written  by  the  men  whose 
names  they  bear  was  never  questioned  by  their  cotempo- 
raries ;  that  the  writers  testify  truly  appears  from  the  fact 
that  they  had  the  most  ample  opportunities  for  knowing 
the  things  whereof  they  affirm  ;  that  their  simple,  straight- 
forward statements  wear  the  intrinsic  aspect  of  truthfulness ; 
that  they  could  have  had  no  earthly  reason  for  stating  false- 
hoods, w^hen  such  statements,  as  they  knew,  would  expose 
them  to  obloquy  and  persecution ;  but  that  they  had,  on  the 
contrary,  every  reason  which  their  temporal  comfort  could 
suggest,  to  induce  them  to  reject  and  suppress  such  testi- 
mony if  untrue.  According  to  every  admitted  standard  for 
estimating  human  character,  the  sacred  waiters  were  good 
men ;  and  if  they  do  not  testify  truly,  then  you  have  the 
singular  phenomenon  of  good  men  affirming  falsehoods ;  or 
if  they  were  not  good  men,  then  you  have  the  still  stranger 
phenomenon,  of  bad  men  inventing  the  most  excellent  sys- 
tem of  morals  the  world  has  ever  seen ;  and  propagating  a 
system  which  condemned  themselves,  at  the  forfeiture  of 
every  earthly  comfort,  and  oftentimes  even  of  their  lives. 

That  these  men  were  divinely  commissioned  is  shown 
from  the   miracles   they  wrought   in   attestation  of  their 


252     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


errand,  and  by  their  foretelling  events  long  before  they 
occurred,  and  which  could  have  been  foreseen  by  no  human 
prescience.  The  Scriptures,  too,  bear  upon  their  face  the 
impress  of  their  divine  origin.  The  Bible  is  just  such  a 
book  as  it  might  be  supposed  would  emanate  from  such  a 
being  as  God.  Its  knowledge  of  human  character,  its  pro- 
vision for  all  possible  human  wants,  and  its  peerless  moral- 
ity,— all  attest  it  to  be  of  more  than  mortal  workmanship ; 
whilst  its  actual  effects  in  elevating  character,  shedding 
abroad  through  the  whole  social  and  secular  world  a  benign 
and  purifying  influence,  transforming  barbarism  into  civili- 
zation, and  changing  the  profane  and  profligate  to  the 
upright  and  excellent, — all  these  are  but  practical  and  visible 
testimonials  to  show  that  the  teachings  and  the  results  of 
the  Bible  are  coincident,  and  that  they  proceed  from  a  source 
divine. 

The  very  fact  that  you  have  the  Bible  to-day,  is  an  ar- 
gument irrefutable  as  to  its  divinity.  Despised,  and  spoken 
against,  assailed  by  more  than  a  legion  of  powerful  foes  in 
every  generation,  it  has  still  survived  the  attacks  of  malig- 
nity, the  wreck  of  successive  empires,  and  the  ruin  of  every 
other  production  cotemporaneous  with  itself.  Rest  assured 
then,  that  when  you  open  the  pages  of  the  Bible  you  are 
reading  the  handwriting  of  the  Most  High ;  that  when  you 


THE     SWORD     OF     THE     WORD.  253 


ponder  its  teachings  you  are  listening  to  a  voice  celestial ; 
that  when  you  are  offered  the  word  of  God  as  the  sword  of 
your  warfare,  you  are  provided  with  an  implement  of 
heavenly  workmanship. 

Hence,  also,  you  may  be  satisfied  with  the  simple  Scrip- 
tures as  an  amply  sufficient  weapon.  Some  there  are,  who, 
not  content  with  what  inspiration  has  recorded,  seek  to 
render  the  sword  of  the  Christian  warrior  more  complete 
by  uniting  with  the  teachings  of  revelation  those  also  of 
tradition.  They  contend  that  the  Spirit  communicated  to 
pious  men  much  more  than  is  in  the  sacred  records ;  that 
those  who  thus  received  truth  imparted  it  to  others,  and 
these  again  to  others ;  so  that  there  has  been  handed  down 
through  all  successive  generations  a  body  of  traditional 
teachings  just  as  reliable  as  the  written  word. 

You  need  hardly  be  assured  that  for  these  claims,  not  one 
whit  of  valid  testimony  can  be  adduced ;  and  that  in  the 
absence  of  such  testimony,  however  specious  the  preten- 
sions of  tradition,  its  teachings  must  be  rejected  as  spurious. 
What  need  has  revelation  for  the  proffered  aid  of  tradition  ? 
Are  not  the  Scriptures  of  themselves  a  complete  rule  as 
to  how  we  may  glorify  God  and  enjoy  him  for  ever  ? 
Possessed  of  these,  is  not  the  man  of  God  "  thoroughly 

furnished?"     "All  Scripture,"  says  Paul,   "is  given  by 

22 


254     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


inspiration  of  God.  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for 
reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness,  that 
the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto 
all  good  works."  If  you  may  be  perfect  and  thoroughly 
furnished  for  all  the  emergencies  of  your  warfare  without 
tradition,  then,  I  ask,  what  need  have  you  for  resort  to  any 
such  mere  human  appliances  ? 

It  is  well,  also,  to  observe  how  those  who  make  most  of 
tradition,  make  least  of  the  Scriptures ;  how  the  teachings 
of  tradition  are  exalted  at  the  expense  of  those  of  revela- 
tion, until  men  now,  as  they  did  in  the  days  of  the  Saviour, 
make  void  the  law  of  God  through  their  vain  traditions. 

You  will  remember,  too,  vvith  what  awful  language  we 
are  warned  against  interfering  in  any  manner  with  the  hand- 
writing of  God  in  his  word.  "  If  any  man  will  add  unto 
these  things,"  says  John,  "  God  shall  add  unto  him  the 
plagues  written  in  this  book ;  and  if  any  man  shall  take 
away  from  the  words  of  the  book  of  this  prophecy,  God 
shall  take  away  his  part  out  of  the  book  of  life,  and 
out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the  things  that  are  written 
in  this  book."  Surely,  then,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit 
will  not  be  strengthened  by  additions  which  men  may 
make  to  it.  It  will  be  hopelessly  weakened.  Not  only 
its   brightness,    but   its    whole    metal   will    be   essentially 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  255 


changed;  so  that  instead  of  a  weapon  invincible,  it  shall 
become  but  as  a  sceptre  of  lead,  without  temper  or  sharp- 
ness, to  be  bent  and  blunted  at  every  stroke,  and  to  leave 
its  deluded  possessor  as  the  prey  of  the  devil  and  his 
legions.  The  pure  and  simple  word  of  God  is  the  only 
weapon  which  can  successfully  put  to  flight  the  hosts  of 
darkness. 

And  whilst  urging  you  to  take  as  your  sword  the  word 
of  God  unalloyed,  you  must  also  be  reminded  of  the  neces- 
sity of  taking  the  entire  word  of  God.  Some  professing 
Christians  there  are,  who  seem  to  reserve  for  themselves  the 
privileges  of  eclectics ;  receiving  just  so  much  of  the  word 
as  may  suit  their  convenience,  and  practically  rejecting  the 
rest.  Of  this  sort  the  number  is  perhaps  increasing.  We 
may  presently  advert  to  the  liberties  which  men  now  feel 
themselves  authorized  to  take  with  the  Scriptures,  in  order 
to  adapt  them  to  the  "  improved  state  of  society,  or  the 
modern  discoveries  of  science."  It  may  suffice  just  here 
to  remark  that  there  is  no  form  of  error,  from  the  most 
blank  infidelity  to  the  most  thorough  pantheism,  whose 
advocates  have  not  professed  to  find  authority  for  their 
systems  in  the  Bible. 

It  is  more  to  our  present  purpose  to  speak  of  the  practical 
eclecticism   of  professedly   evangelical    Christians.      How 


256  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


many  who  are  enlisted  according  to  the  avowed  principles 
of  a  thoroughly  gospel  standard  in  the  armies  of  salvation, 
in  word  or  action  deny  that  the  important  precepts  of  God's 
truth  have  any  application  to  themselves.  Those  teachings 
which  demand  entire  devotion,  which  require  great  self- 
denial,  and  an  avoidance  of  even  the  appearance  of  evil, 
or  which  rebuke  all  conformity  to  the  world,  are  thrust 
aside,  as  belonging  to  the  apostolic  and  primitive  times 
of  the  church,  or  to  days  when  persecution  calls  for  a 
higher  style  of  piety  ;  and  thus  what  God  has  clearly 
written  for  his  people  in  all  time,  is  rendered  void  and 
of  none  effect. 

Especially  is  it  true  that  what  are  termed  the  doctrinal  or 
dogmatic  teachings  of  the  Scriptures,  are  regarded  by  some 
professing  Christians  as  matters  which  may  or  may  not  be 
received  at  discretion.  Are  there  not  some  also  who  even 
boast,  as  if  taking  special  credit  to  themselves,  that  as  for 
them  they  know  nothing  of  doctrines  ?  Where  is  the 
warrant  for  such  discrimination?  By  what  authority  is 
dishonour  cast  on  that  which  God  has  revealed  ?  Who 
has  abrogated  the  curse  recorded  against  "  any  man  who 
shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the  book  of  this 
prophecy  ?"  Are  not  doctrinal  truths  a  part  of  the  things 
written  in  the  book  of  God  ?     Read  the  Epistles  to  the 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  257 


Romans,  the  Galatians,  or  the  Hebrews ; — were  not  these 
from  the  pen  of  inspiration,  equally  with  other  portions 
of  the  Bible  ?  Strange  then  that  any  should  boast  that  as 
for  them,  there  is  a  part  of  God's  word  of  which  they  know- 
nothing  ;  strange  that  they  should  regard  it  as  a  special 
mark  of  piety  to  say  by  implication,  that  there  is  a  portion 
of  the  Bible  which  is  unnecessary ;  that  a  soul  can  be 
sanctified  by  a  part  of  the  truth  as  well  as  the  whole  truth  ; 
or  that  a  warrior  is  as  well  armed  with  a  broken  sword  as 
with  a  perfect  one. 

It  is  a  great  fallacy  for  professedly  good  men  to  imagine, 
that  the  profounder  doctrinal  teachings  of  the  Bible  have 
no  relation  to  practical  religion.  All  true  piety  is  based 
upon  doctrinal  truths.  In  these  is  laid  the  foundation 
work,  on  which  is  built  that  which  is  vital  and  operative. 
They  make  up  the  great  frame-work  or  anatomy  of  the 
spiritual  system;  and  on  these  bones 'are  laid  the  muscle, 
sinew,  artery  and  nerve,  which  complete  the  living  man. 
A  mere  skeleton,  it  is  true,  would  be  but  a  poor  pretence 
for  a  soldier;  but  a  man  without  this  frame-work  of 
bones  would  be  better  fitted  to  take  fellowship  with  an 
oyster  than  with  an  army.  We  have  too  many  spiritual 
oysters  in  the  camp  of  Israel.      Zion  does  not  need  this 

unsubstantial,    vegetating    kind    of   the    animal    creation ; 

22* 


258  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS 


she  rather  calls  for  the  active,  walking,  working  men,  made 
up  of  muscle,  sinew,  artery  and  nerve,  built  on  a  substantial 
frame-work. 

In  all  the  church  of  God,  where  has  been  seen  such 
piety,  as  that  which  might  be  termed  the  doctrino-practical? 
It  has  been  already  suggested,  that  men  may  sometimes 
base  their  hopes  on  a  mere  speculative  orthodoxy, — 
illustrating  in  themselves  the  faith  which  is  without  works ; 
but  where  there  is  a  mind  thoroughly  instructed  in  doctrinal 
truth,  and  a  soul  set  on  fire  with  the  love  of  Christ,  have 
we  not  the  highest  style  of  a  Christian  ?  Here  is  the  man 
not  for  sunshine  and  fair  weather  merely,  but  the  man 
of  all  weathers ;  the  man  not  for  revivals  and  seasons 
of  excitement  merely,  but  the  man  for  revivals  and  for  the 
common  current  course  of  Christian  life  also ;  the  man 
whom  you  may  know  where  to  find ;  the  man  who  is 
as  undaunted  amid  the  battle-storm,  as  when  reposing  in 
the  triumphs  of  victory.  For  such  soldiers  the  army  of 
salvation  calls ;  such  is  the  pattern  of  soldiership,  pre- 
scribed by  the  leader  of  the  hosts  for  all ; — a  weapon 
made  of  the  entire  word  of  God  is  the  only  true  and 
availing  sword  for  the  warfare. 

Take  heed  to  thy  doctrine,  is  an  injunction  which  we 
would  do  well  to  remember ;  fix  well  the  polar  stars  of  a 


THE     SAVORD    OF     THE    WORD.  259 


system  of  doctrinal  truth,  and  they  will  guide  your  foot- 
steps onward  through  many  a  gloomy  march,  or  shine 
sweetly  on  you  through  the  long  vigils  of  the  nights  of 
sorrow.  Take  the  whole  counsel  of  God  as  your  portion, 
and  you  will  be  furnished  with  a  blade,  before  w^hose 
strokes  no  enemy  can  stand,  and  whose  very  possession 
will  inspire  your  heart  with  dauntless  and  undying  valor. 

This  weapon,  as  you  may  also  perceive,  is  called  "the 
sword  of  the  Spirit."  In  the  great  scheme  for  conquering 
the  powers  of  darkness,  all  the  persons  of  the  Godhead  are 
united.  Christ,  the  Captain  of  Salvation,  purchased  the 
efficacious  co-operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  whose  agency 
is  indispensable  to  the  triumphs  of  the  cross.  The  com- 
munication of  the  will  of  God  to  man  was  a  most  important 
work  of  this  person  of  the  Trinity.  The  Spirit  takes  "  the 
things  which  are  God's,  and  shows  them  unto  us."  "  The 
prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man  ;  but 
holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  w^ere  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost."     The  word  of  God  was  indited  by  the  Spirit. 

Amongst  the  insidious  assaults  which  modern  infidelity 
is  making  on  the  gospel,  there  are  none  more  dangerous 
than  the  efforts  to  impugn  the  plenary  inspiration  of  the 
Scriptures.  There  have  risen  up  of  late,  a  class  of  men 
professedly  skilled  in  Biblical  lore,  but  bewildered  by  their 


260  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


own  conceits,  who  are  unwilling  to  receive  the  Bible  as 
inspired,  both  as  to  its  language  and  its  doctrines,  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  whose  show  of  learning  renders  their 
pretensions  the  more  to  be  dreaded.  Do  these  assailers  of 
the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures  not  know  that  the  terms 
in  which  truth  is  to  be  conveyed,  are  of  almost  equal 
practical  importance  with  the  truth  itself  ?  Of  what  avail 
will  it  be  that  truths  are  revealed  to  the  minds  of  the  pen- 
men of  the  Scriptures,  if,  after  all,  this  truth  is  to  be  com- 
municated in  the  blundering  phraseology  of  fallible  man? 
Is  there  no  need  for  the  selection  of  proper  terms  in  which 
truth  is  to  be  revealed,  lest,  after  all,  that  truth  should 
never  reach  those  for  whom  it  was  designed  ?  "  Hold  fast 
the  form  of  sound  words,"  is  a  divine  injunction. 

Or,  if  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures  is  not  plenary,  but 
partial,  then  how  are  we  to  fix  the  limit,  so  as  to  under- 
stand what  is  and  what  is  not  inspired?  Do  not  such  as- 
sumptions virtually  overthrow  the  inspiration  of  the  whole 
Bible  ?  And  who  is  authorized  to  gainsay  the  declaration 
of  God  himself,  who  says,  "  All  Scripture  is  given  by  in- 
spiration?" Rest  assured  that,  no  matter  what  the  preten- 
sions to  piety  and  learning,  the  assailers  of  plenary  inspira- 
tion are  most  efficiently  doing  the  work  of  infidelity. 

"  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God."     It  is 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  261 


not  necessary  for  us  to  understand  the  exact  method  by 
which  the  Spirit  made  known  divine  truth  to  the  inspired 
penmen.  We  can  easily  believe  that  the  same  God  who 
created  the  human  mind,  could  hold  with  that  mind  any 
communication  which  he  might  desire.  He  could  speak  to 
prophets  and  apostles  in  audible  words ;  he  could  represent 
truth  in  impressive  dreams  and  visions ;  he  could  w'rite  it 
on  tablets  of  stone ;  or  he  could  suggest  it  silently  but 
powerfully  to  the  understanding,  accompanied  by  such  tes- 
timonials as  would  prove  it  a  communication  from  heaven ; 
— and  by  all  these  methods  were  holy  men  of  old  moved  to 
make  those  records  which  in  all  coming  time  were  to  stand 
as  the  revealed  will  of  God  to  man.  Thus  w^ere  the  pages 
of  the  Bible  written ;  and  as  it  was  the  Holy  Ghost  who 
communicated  these  teachings,  the  word  of  God  is  fitly 
termed  "the  sword  of  the  Spirit.'" 

This  appellation  appears  still  more  appropriate,  too, 
when  you  remember  that  the  agency  of  the  Spirit  alone  can 
give  such  efficacy  to  the  word  as  to  render  it  an  available 
weapon.  Of  itself,  the  word  of  God  would  remain  a  dead 
letter.  Unless  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  none  would  be 
disposed  to  use  it ;  and  if  so  disposed,  it  would  not  be  effec- 
tual in  putting  to  flight  the  armies  of  the  adversary.  "  The 
natural  mind  discerncth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit,  because 


262  THE    SOLDIEE    OF    THE     CROSS, 


they  are  spiritually  discerned."  How  many  are  there, 
who  have  possessed  the  Bible  all  their  lives  long, — had 
it  in  their  houses,  and  been  taught  it  from  their  childhood, 
in  whose  hearts  the  enemy  is  still  unsubdued,  and  who  are 
still  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his  will.  To  such  this 
sword  has  always  been  a  sheathed  weapon.  Hence  the 
Holy  Ghost  must  accompany  the  truth,  to  give  it  power  and 
energy.  He  must  open  the  eyes  of  the  spiritually  blind 
to  behold  the  excellence  and  utility  of  this  weapon,  and  in- 
cline the  affections  to  take  pleasure  in  using  it  for  vanquish- 
ing the  powers  of  darkness  in  the  soul  and  in  the  world 
without ;  he  must  bend  the  will  to  determination  and  perse- 
verance in  using  it  to  push  forward  the  aggressions  of  the 
armies  of  light.  Without  this  agency,  none  would  ever  be 
disposed  to  enlist  as  soldiers  of  the  cross,  and  when  enlisted, 
their  puny  efforts  would  be  fruitless. 

Peter  might  doubtless  a  thousand  times  have  preached 
just  such  a  sermon  as  fell  from  his  lips  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost, and,  without  the  co-operation  of  the  Spirit,  it  would 
have  fallen  as  an  idle  tale  on  the  dull  ears  of  his  auditors  ; 
but,  when  the  Spirit  came  with  power  divine,  and  took 
the  word  from  his  lips,  brandishing  it  on  every  side,  and 
thrusting  it  with  unerring  aim  into  the  hearts  of  the  King's 
enemies,  that  sermon  from  Peter  became  the  weapon  by 


THE     SWORD    OF     THE    WORD.  263 


which  three  thousand  souls  were  in  one  day  captured  from 
the  hosts  of  darkness.  The  prophet  might  have  spoken 
ever  so  long  to  the  dry  bones  in  the  valley  of  vision,  and 
they  would  still  have  lain  stark  and  cold  before  him ;  but 
no  sooner  did  the  Spirit  breathe  upon  them,  than  bone  re- 
turned to  bone,  sinew  to  sinew,  and  the  bleached  skeletons 
of  the  valley  stood  up  an  army  of  living  men.  John 
Livingston  may  have  often  spoken  to  his  dying  hearers  in 
the  same  strain  in  which  he  preached  on  that  memorable 
day  of  his  ministry  at  the  church  of  Shotts  ;  but  John 
Livingston  had  wrestled  long  in  prayer  for  the  quickening 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  attend  his  words ;  and  when  his 
lips  were  opened,  the  Spirit  came  and  used  the  truth  with 
such  effect,  that  under  that  one  sermon  five  hundred  souls 
were  hopefully  won  over  to  the  standard  of  his  Prince  and 
Saviour.  Whitefield,  Edwards,  Baxter,  and  all  the  ministers 
of  modern  times  most  successful  in  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
have  been  men  eminent  for  their  piety,  their  near  and  con- 
stant communion  with  heaven,  and  the  copious  and  power- 
ful demonstrations  of  the  Spirit  which  accompanied  their 
labours. 

Have  you  not  yourself  often  seen  both  the  necessity  for 
the  Spirit's  agency  and  his  power?  Here  are  those  who  had 
for  years  been  sitting  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel,  without 


264     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


any  visible  impression  of  its  saving  energy, — cold,  stupid, 
lifeless,  "dead  in  trespasses  and  sins."  At  length  the  Spirit 
came  with  the  word  to  their  understandings  and  con- 
sciences. They  were  straightway  pierced  to  the  very 
heart ;  they  cried  out,  "  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do?"  they  laid  down  their  weapons  of  rebellion,  and  sued 
for  pardon  and  acceptance  from  a  despised  and  injured  Sa- 
viour ;  they  were  astonished  at  the  charms  of  his  kingdom ; 
and  joyfully  enlisting  in  his  service,  became  henceforth 
faithful  soldiers  instead  of  bitter  foes.  The  Holy  Ghost 
gave  power  and  energy  to  the  truth ;  the  word  of  God  was 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit. 

The  great  need  of  the  church,  of  the  ministry,  of  every 
reader  and  hearer  of  the  Bible's  teachings,  then,  is  the 
need  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  If  he  but  attend  that  truth,  it 
will  not  be  spoken,  or  heard,  or  read  in  vain;  it  will  accom- 
plish that  whereunto  it  was  sent ;  it  will  go  forth  conquer- 
ing and  to  conquer ;  it  will  show  itself  to  be  a  weapon  of 
divine  workmanship  —  that  word  of  God  which  is  "  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit.' 


» 


THE     SWORD     OF    THE    WORD.  265 


CIIAPTEH  XXI. 

THE      SWORD     OF      THE     WORD. 

"  And  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  wliich  is  the  word  of  God." 

A  most  important  weapon  is  the  sword  of  the  Christian 
soklier,  in  promoting  the  great  ends  of  his  warfare.  It  is 
the  chief  instrument  by  which  the  work  of  extending  the 
kingdom  is  accompUshed.  Some  of  its  offices  in  this  re- 
gard, we  may  examine  in  the  present  chapter. 

The  word  of  God  is  the  primary  instrument,  as  we  have 
just  seen,  by  which  recruits  are  won  to  the  armies  of  salva- 
tion. Other  instrumentalities  the  Master  does  indeed  use 
for  making  conquests  to  his  cause  from  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy,  but  these  are  all  subordinate  to  that  of  the  word. 
The  word  informs  the  understanding  by  communicating  im- 
portant facts.  To  its  teachings  are  we  indebted  for  a  dis- 
tinct knowledge  of  the  being  and  nature  of  God  ;   of  his 

23 


266  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


government  and  laws ;  of  man  and  his  relations  by  nature 
to  God ;  of  eternity  and  the  two-fold  existence  beyond  the 
grave ;  and  more  than  all,  of  the  plan  of  salvation  through 
the  redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  The  primary  truths 
as  to  God's  existence  and  some  of  his  attributes,  may  be 
learned  indeed  from  the  great  book  of  nature,  whose  leaves 
are  spread  out  to  be  read  by  universal  humanity.  The  fact 
of  a  future  existence  may  be  deduced  from  the  speculations 
of  an  intelligent  philosophy  ;  but  for  definite  and  reliable  in- 
formation on  this  point,  and  especially  for  all  that  pertains 
to  Calvary,  with  its  correlative  graces  of  faith  and  repent- 
ance ;  for  instructions  as  to  that  holiness  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord ;  for  a  transcript  of  the  judgment  of 
heaven  and  of  hell;— for  all  these  indispensable  truths 
we  are  indebted  to  that  gospel  which  has  "  brought 
life  and  immortality  to  light."  Beyond  doubt  all  such 
information  will  prove  a  "  savour  of  death  unto  death," 
unless  attended  by  the  life-giving  power  of  the  Spirit ; 
but  these  truths  are  the  instruments  used  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  in  much  of  his  work  of  illumination;  and  for 
this  reason  the  word  of  God  may  be  called  "the  sword  of 
the  Spirit." 

The  word  is  the  instrument  used  by  the  Spirit  in  the 
work  of  conviction  and  conversion.     The  entire  work  ac- 


THE     SWORD    OF     THE     WORD.  267 


complished  in  our  translation  from  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness into  that  of  God's  dear  Son,  is  not  indeed  accomplished 
through  the  agency  of  the  truth.  The  great  change  of  rege- 
neration is  wrought  by  a  direct  and  independent  acting  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  soul.  Some  affirm  the  agency  of  the  truth  even 
in  the  immediate  work  of  regeneration.  They  contend  that 
what  men  need  is  light ;  that  the  Spirit  accompanying  the 
word  gives  this  light ;  and  that  under  such  a  presentation  of 
truth  the  soul  is  renewed.  But,  in  order  to  bring  men  from 
the  death  in  trespasses  and  sins  to  spiritual  life,  something 
more  than  light  is  needed.  Devils  have  more  light  than  men ; 
— in  this  respect  they  have  no  essential  deficiency,  but  devils, 
although  they  believe  and  tremble,  are  not  regenerated. 
Many  a  soul  has  been  powerfully  illuminated  under  the 
agency  of  the  truth  as  used  by  the  Spirit,  while  the  greater 
the  illumination,  the  greater  has  been  the  exhibition  of  hos- 
tility and  resistance.  The  radical  defect  is  with  the  soul 
itself.  There  is  here  an  organic  derangement ;  and  until  this 
be  rectified,  it  is  vain  to  hope  for  any  right  performance  of 
its  spiritual  functions.  Hence  whatever  may  be  the  agency 
of  the  truth  in  the  preliminary  stages  of  conversion, — how- 
ever indispensable  its  offices  in  informing,  impressing  and  con- 
victing, when  the  great  radical  change  of  the  heart  itself  is  to 
be  wrought,  the  truth  fails  in  its  power  as  an  agent,  and  the 


268  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


soul  can  only  be  re-created  by  the  same  direct  divine  power 
by  which  it  was  created  at  first. 

We  must  not,  however,  derogate  from  the  important 
offices  performed  by  the  truth  in  the  hands  of  the  Spirit. 
Without  this  preliminary  work,  ordinarily  the  soul  would 
never  be  brought  into  that  condition  in  which  the  Spirit 
accomplishes  its  regeneration.  Through  the  truth  the 
realities  of  eternal  things  are  brought  home  to  the  soul ; 
through  the  truth  the  strictness,  spirituality,  and  immuta- 
bility of  God's  law  is  enforced ;  through  the  truth  is 
induced  a  personal  sense  of  guiltiness  and  condemnation, 
of  a  lost  and  hopeless  condition  by  nature ;  through  the 
truth  the  need  of  a  Saviour  and  the  adaptation  of  that 
Saviour  to  the  wants  of  the  sinner  are  impressed  ;  and 
thus  is  the  law  made  a  "  school-master  to  bring  us  to 
Christ." 

The  Captain  of  Salvation  sends  out  the  word,  thundering 
the  curses  of  Sinai,  holding  up  the  wrath  of  an  angry  God, 
uncovering  the  evil  and  loathsomeness  of  sin,  displaying  the 
peace-speaking,  blood-stained  banner  of  the  cross,  until 
vmder  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  the  hostility  of  those  who 
have  been  his  enemies  is  subdued,  and  they  are  brouglit  to 
his  feet  as  willing  trophies  of  his  grace.  Thus,  by  the  truth 
are  recruits  won  from  the  kingdom  of  darkness  to  that  of 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  269 


God's  dear  Son  ;  and  thus  also  does  the  word  of  God  prove 
to  be  "  the  sword  of  the  Spirit." 

The  word  of  God  is  also  the  great  agent  in  the  sanctifi- 
cation  of  the  Christian  soldier.  "  Sanctify  them  through 
thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth,"  was  the  prayer  of  the  Saviour 
for  such  as  had  believed  on  his  name,  and  whom  he  was 
about  to  leave  in  this  world ;  and  the  prayer  also  for  as 
many  as  should  afterwards  believe  on  his  name.  From  the 
pages  of  inspiration  were  his  wayfaring  people  ever  to  learn 
lessons  of  wisdom  and  holiness ;  here  were  they  all  their 
journey  through  to  be  making  new  discoveries  as  to  the 
evils  remaining  within  them  to  be  conquered  ;  here  they 
were  to  receive  instructions  as  to  the  ordering  of  their 
march,  to  hear  motives  to  call  them  into  action,  and  listen 
to  the  promises  of  consolation  given  for  their  encourage- 
ment and  support  by  the  way ;  and  thus  ever  learning, — 
becoming  ever  wiser,  they  were  to  die  more  and  more  unto 
sin  and  live  unto  holiness ; — they  were  to  grow  in  grace 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  their  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  until  they  attained  the  full  stature,  strength,  and 
experience  of  manhood  in  Christ  Jesus. 

How  important  the  word  of  God,  too,  as  a  refuter  of 

error.     Ever  since  the  Bible  has  been  in  the  world,  there 

have  been  those  ready,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  nul- 

23* 


270  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


lify  its  teachings.  At  every  article  of  faith  or  practice 
have  their  shafts  been  aimed.  They  have  denied  to  Christ 
a  place  in  the  Godhead ;  they  have  exalted  other  interces- 
sors to  take  part  in  his  mediation,  and  virtually  set  aside  his 
work  ;  they  have  disowned  the  native  depravity  of  the  soul 
and  its  inability ;  they  have  invented  a  system  of  ordi- 
nances, sacraments,  and  priests,  which,  although  bearing 
the  outward  impress  of  the  Scriptures,  and  speaking  some- 
thing of  its  language,  has  been  another  gospel ;  they  have 
cried  Hosannas  to  philosophy,  falsely  so  called,  and  cruci- 
fied the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  they  have  dug  down  into 
the  earth's  bowels,  bringing  out  old  fossils,  or  gone  into 
museums  of  anatomy,  and  bringing  out  human  bones,  have 
endeavoured  to  make  the  fossils  and  the  human  bones  de- 
clare the  Bible  to  be  a  lie.  But  all  the  while  the  Bible 
has  had  its  friends  to  stand  by  it ;  and  although  the  greater 
part  of  those  who  have  remained  steadfast  in  their  love  for 
its  simple  truths  have  not  been  amongst  the  great  ones  of 
the  earth,  yet  it  has  been  able  to  point  to  such  as  Newton, 
Locke,  Milton,  Boyle,  men  neither  unknown  nor  unhonored 
in  the  world,  who  have  been  ready  to  sit  as  children  whilst 
inspiration  was  speaking,  and  to  show  to  those  who  had 
not,  like  themselves,  penetrated  the  arcana  of  science,  that 
all  true  science  and  philosophy  are  but  the  handmaids  of 


THE     SWORD     OF    THE     WORD.  271 


the  religion  of  the  gospel.  Amidst  all  the  progress  in  phi- 
losophy, science  and  the  arts  ;  amidst  all  the  so-called  im- 
provements of  society,  through  the  long  sweep  of  centuries, 
the  Bible  has  still  not  only  kept  pace  with  the  onward 
march  of  human  things,  but  has  been  ever  in  the  van ;  to 
be  at  times  taunted  by  them,  indeed,  in  their  infancy,  but 
in  their  maturity  to  master  them  and  make  them  its  ser- 
vants. 

But  for  the  pure  and  simple  word  of  God — but  for  this 
mighty  sword  of  the  Spirit ;  where  would  be  the  Christian 
soldier  in  time  of  these  multifarious  onsets  from  the  regions 
of  error  ?  Unlearned,  perhaps,  in  the  logic  of  the  schools, 
a  stranger  to  the  fields  of  human  science,  he  cannot  in  kind 
refute  the  enemies  of  the  truth,  the  Saviour  and  himself; 
but  he  can  turn  to  the  pages  of  that  volume  of  the  word, 
and  in  the  simple  grandeur  of  those  teachings, — in  their 
adaptation  to  the  wants  and  experience  of  his  own  soul,  he 
shall  hear  a  voice,  which,  above  all  the  mutterings  of  the 
schools,  will  prove  them  to  his  satisfaction  to  be  divine. 
"My  sheep  hear  my  voice,"  says  Christ,  "and  follow  me." 

Then,  also,  the  tutored,  skilled  and  valiant  soldier  of  the 
cross,  whose  education  has  fitted  him  for  grappling  all  forms 
of  speculative  truth  and  error,  here  finds  also  his  lessons  of 
wisdom.     From  the  storehouse  of  revelation  he  brings  out 


272  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS. 


truth  after  truth,  arranging  them  in  order  and  harmony; 
showing  them  to  be  consistent  with  each  other,  wdth  a  sound 
philosophy,  with  the  wants  of  mankind,  and  with  the  nature 
of  God  himself;  and  hurls  headlong  the  vain  pretensions  of 
errorists,  with  his  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord," — doing  battle 
manfully  for  his  master,  until  error  is  forced  to  hide  its  con- 
founded head,  and  truth  stands  in  lofty  majesty  vindicated, 
through  the  good  service  done  by  the  word  of  God  as  "  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit." 

We  have  adverted  briefly  to  the  ends  for  which  the. 
word  of  God  is  to  be  used ;  it  will  be  proper  also  to  attend 
somewhat  to  the  manner  in  which  the  Christian  soldier  is 
to  use  this  sword  of  his  warfare. 

Obviously,  the  word  of  God  should  be  carefully,  habitu- 
ally, and  prayerfully  studied  by  every  professed  follower 
of  Christ.  It  is  in  the  pages  of  the  Bible  that  he  beholds 
the  image,  marks  the  footsteps,  and  hears  the  voice  of  his 
glorious  leader ;  and  no  soldier  can  be  faithful  to  his  call- 
ing who  does  not  keep  up  constant  communion  between  the 
pages  of  the  Bible  and  his  own  soul.  "  Search  the  Scrip- 
tures," says  Christ,  "for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal 
life;" — pass  not  over  their  pages  thoughtlessly,  hastily, 
irreverently  ;  but  with  humble  diligence  and  docility  search 
them  to  find  out  their  meaning, — to  know  what  the  will  of 


THE     SWORD    OF     THE     WORD.  273 


God  is  concerning  you,  and  concerning  the  great  interests 
of  his  kingdom. 

Bible-reading  is  so  plain  and  palpable  a  duty  of  every 
friend  of  the  Saviour,  that  barely  to  mention  it  in  the  enu- 
meration of  Christian  duties  might  to  some  seem  sufficient. 
But,  palpable  as  is  this  duty,  have  we  no  reason  to  appre- 
hend its  neglect  by  a  large  number,  and  its  superficial  dis- 
charge by  an  equally  large  number  even  of  those  who  are 
professedly  enlisted  in  the  spiritual  warfare  ?  A  few  chap- 
ters on  the  Sabbath,  or  one  occasionally  during  the  week, 
suffices  even  for  some  professing  Christians.  Instead  of  an 
hour  each  morning  with  the  Bible,  how  many  spend  the 
first  available  morning  hour  with  the  newspaper.  Politics, 
commerce,  agriculture,  literature,  or  fiction,  can  furnish 
reading  which  easily  interests ;  but  the  momentous  themes 
of  the  Bible  are  practically  regarded  as  of  little  consequence. 
Comparing  Scripture  with  Scripture,  seeking  helps  to  find 
out  its  meaning,  meditating  on  what  is  understood,  fixing  u 
certain  portion  for  daily  perusal,  so  that  the  entire  word  may 
be  read  and  re-read  through  all  the  life  long,  these  are 
indeed  matters  of  moment  to  some,  but  matters  of  apparent 
indifference  to  many  in  the  armies  of  Zion.  The  press  of 
business  is  allowed  to  consume  the  time  due  to  such  sacred 
employments ;  sleep,  daily  bread,  and  the  toil  of  life,  with 


274  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


perhaps  a  very  limited  interval  reserved  for  prayer — these 
fill  up  the  week  of  too  large  a  number  of  Christ's  professed 
followers ;  whilst  their  Bibles,  could  they  but  speak,  would 
tell  a  sad  tale  of  neglect. 

A  long  life  in  the  whirl  of  business  may  have  been  unfa- 
vourable to  cultivating  a  taste  for  reading  of  any  descrip- 
tion ;  but  such  tastes  should  be  rectified,  and  especially  as 
regards  God's  holy  w^ord.  A  plea  such  as  this  will  not 
avail.  Are  the  cares  of  your  daily  calling  so  pressing  as 
not  to  allow  a  portion  of  time  daily  for  Bible  reading  and 
meditation?  then  about  the  arrangements  of  that  calling 
there  is  some  radical  defect.  According  to  God's  plan,  it 
is  impossible  that  regular  and  lawful  employments  can  pro- 
perly interfere  with  devotional  duties ;  for  as  his  claims 
come  first,  these  must  be  first  attended  to  ;  and  then  all 
earthly  things  must  come  afterwards.  No  man  ever  lost  in 
his  business  by  devoting  a  portion  of  every  day  to  the  study 
of  his  Bible.  Or  is  your  mind  so  absorbed  in  the  pursuits 
of  the  world,  that  when  you  sit  down  over  the  sacred  pages, 
although  your  eyes  are  passing  over  the  letters,  your 
thoughts  are  wandering  still  to  the  counting-house  or  others 
of  the  scenes  of  time,  so  that  what  you  have  read  might 
almost  as  well  have  been  unread  ?  Then  rest  assured  tlie 
world  has  too  strong  a  hold  upon  your  heart,  and  you  have 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  275 


reason  to  ponder  that  passage,  "If  any  man  love  the  world, 
the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him." 

Be  not  content,  reader,  unless  each  day  of  your  life  you 
set  apart  a  portion  of  time  for  searching  the  Scriptures. 
Fix  some  special  hour  for  this  sacred  employment ;  and 
let  that  appointment,  as  far  as  in  you  lies,  be  immutable. 
In  your  travels  abroad  as  well  as  in  your  sojourn  at  home, 
forget  it  not ;  let  your  Bible  be  your  constant  companion. 
Avail  yourself  of  the  helps  for  understanding  it,  afforded 
by  men  who  have  devoted  learning  and  life  to  explaining 
what  the  will  of  the  Lord  in  his  word  is.  And  with  a 
mind  thus  tutored;  with  precept,  promise  and  pious 
example  treasured  up  in  your  heart ;  you  will  be  armed  for 
the  warfare,  and  be  able  to  do  good  service  for  the  Master. 
In  all  time  of  temptation,  depression,  sorrow,  conflict,  or  in 
your  long  marches,  you  will  have  about  you  a  good  and 
trusty  weapon,  to  parry  the  assaults  of  the  devil  and 
make  aggressions  on  his  ranks,  girded  as  you  will  be  with 
"  the  sword  of  the  Spirit." 

This  weapon  of  our  warfare  must  also  be  used  through 
the  preaching  of  the  word.  "By  the  foolishness  of 
preaching"  it  is,  that  God  "saves  them  that  believe." 
"  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel,"  was 
the  Saviour's  great  commission  to  his  church.     You  must 


276  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE    CROSS. 


at  least  be  a  hearer  of  the  word,  and  a  constant,  attentive, 
docile  hearer  too.  Not  simply  to  listen  to  well-turned 
periods,  or  to  be  moved  by  appeals  to  the  imagination 
and  sensibilities, — not  to  criticise  and  cavil,  must  we  go 
up  to  the  sanctuary.  Does  the  faithful  soldier  spend  his 
time  in  critiques  upon  the  terms  in  which  are  couched  the 
orders  from  his  commander-in-chief?  or  on  the  tones  with 
which  such  orders  are  delivered  ?  Not  to  hear  for  others 
but  for  yourself  must  you  go  to  the  sanctuary  ; — not  to  say, 
this  is  for  that  person,  and  that  for  another,  without  ever- 
thinking  whether  these  and  all  other  wholesome  truths  are 
not  for  your  own  soul.  Does  the  good  soldier  hear  all  the 
commands  of  his  chief  but  to  transfer  them  to  his  companions 
in  arms,  reserving  none  for  himself?  or  does  he  not  hear  as 
if  in  all  the  ranks  there  were  no  other  soldier  than  himself? 
From  all  gospel  preaching,  however  simple  the  lan- 
guage, or  unattractive  the  manner,  we  may  gain  some- 
thing for  our  spiritual  profit.  From  that  pulpit  God  is 
speaking,  though  it  be  through  an  earthen  vessel ;  and 
who  will  say  that  when  God  speaks  we  may  not  learn 
lessons  of  wisdom?  Happy  the  hearer  who  is  always 
gleaning  instruction  even  in  the  most  barren  fields  opened 
to  him  from  the  pulpit ;  happy  the  hearer  whose  footsteps 
never  return  from  the  house  of  God.  but  that  he  feels  it  has 


THE     SWORD     OF     THE     AVORD.  277 


been  good  for  him  to  be  there, — that  by  once  more  waiting 
on  the  Lord  his  sword  has  been  sharpened,  and  he  has 
been  better  armed  for  the  warfare. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  your  duty  to  use  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit,  by  yourself  standing  up  as  a  preacher  of  the  word. 
You  do  not  know  that  you  are  called  to  the  ministry? 
Once  this  was  true  of  all  who  have  ever  proclaimed  the 
glad  news  of  salvation.  Never  will  you  know  whether 
you  are  not  called,  until  humbly,  prayerfully  and  diligently 
you  have  asked,  in  this  respect,  the  question,  "  Lord, what 
wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  Ambition,  lucre,  carnal  ease, 
for  the  present,  may  offer  superior  attractions,  and  plead 
hard  against  the  self-denying  service  of  the  ministry  ;  but 
the  message  to  you  may  still  be,  "  Let  the  dead  bury  their 
dead,  but  go  thou  and  preach  the  gospel." 

Have  you  been  truly  converted  ?  have  you  an  education, 
or  is  the  way  accessible  for  obtaining  one  ?  are  there  no  insur- 
mountable obstacles  to  your  engaging  in  this  work?  have  you 
a  heart  for  such  service? — then  there  may  be  a  "woe"  to  you 
if  you  preach  not  the  gospel.  Prefer  some  secular  and  less 
arduous  employment  you  may;  favoured  by  ambition,  lucre, 
and  carnal  comfort,  you  may  be  ;  but,  withholding  your 
hand  from  this  great  good,  when  it  is  in  the  power  of  that 

hand  to  do  it,  with  all  your  gettings  you  will  get  lean- 

24 


278     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


ness  of  soul,  and  you  will  not  get  the  favour  of  God  on 
your  ways. 

Loud  are  the  Macedonian  cries  for  help  coming  to  the 
church  from  this  and  from  all  lands.  Wide  are  the  doors 
now  opened  for  the  entrance  of  the  armies  of  light.  Old 
partition  walls  are  breaking  down ;  revolutions  are  level- 
ing the  mountains  and  bringing  up  the  valleys,  and  pre- 
paring the  highway  whereon  may  march  the  serried  hosts 
of  Calvary  to  the  conquest  of  the  nations.  Take  heed  lest, 
slighting  the  message  to  go  and  preach  the  gospel,  your 
skirts  be  found  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  perishing ! 

Or,  are  you  a  parent?  Has  God  given  you  children? 
then  it  may  be  your  calling  to  train  up  one  or  more  of 
these  to  be  preachers  of  the  word.  To  train  up  all  of  them 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  is  a  patent 
method  of  using  the  "sword"  which  God  has  put  into  your 
hands ;  but,  like  the  mother  of  Samuel,  or  the  mother  of 
Mills,  to  devote  your  infant  offspring  to  the  Saviour  for  the 
service  of  the  ministry,  may  be  the  honoured  employment 
with  which  the  Head  of  the  Church  has  favoured  you. 
Some  among  the  professed  followers  of  Christ,  it  is  said 
there  are,  who  would  greatly  prefer  seeing  their  sons  in 
legislative  halls,  in  Congress,  at  the  bar,  in  the  office  of 
the  healing  art,  or  almost  anywhere  else  than  in  the  pulpit. 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  279 


Thanks  be  to  God  such  are  not  all.  The  youthful  son  of 
one  who  stood  high  m  the  naval  service  of  the  country, 
was  once  asked,  in  the  presence  of  his  father,  if  he  did  not 
intend  to  be  an  officer  in  the  navy.  The  father  promptly 
replied,  "  Sir,  I  wish  my  boy  to  be  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel ;"  and  when  asked  if  he  would  prefer  that  his  son  should 
be  a  minister  rather  than  engage  in  his  own  profession ;  he 
added,  "  I  consider  the  office  of  the  ministry  the  highest 
office  upon  earth ;  I  would  rather  see  my  son  a  faithful  and 
successful  minister  than  see  him  chief  magistrate  of  this 
great  republic."  Would  that  there  were  many  like-minded  I 
Would  that  like  the  mother  of  Samuel  or  of  Mills,  or  the 
father  of  this  boy,  there  were  throughout  the  Zion  of  God 
on  earth,  parents  who  would  feel  it  their  highest  honour  to 
rear  up  their  children  for  using  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  as 
faithful  preachers  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

You  can  at  least  aid  in  the  extensive  use  of  this  sword, 
by  contributing  from  your  substance  to  raise  up  and  sustain 
a  ministry  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  church  and  the 
world.  Whether  possessed  of  much  or  little  of  this  world's 
goods,  you  are  but  a  steward,  and  he  whose  are  the  silver 
and  the  gold,  claims  at  least  a  portion  of  your  substance  to 
be  used  directly  in  building  up  his  kingdom.  But  a  widow's 
mite  may  make  up  your  whole  living ;  then  by  casting  that 


280  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


into  the  Lord's  treasury  you  may  exercise  a  benevolence 
larger  and  more  precious  in  the  eyes  of  him  who  seeth  not 
as  man  seeth,  than  the  rich  men  whose  names  are  most 
honoured  as  the  patrons  of  charity.  To  some  you  may 
seem  to  possess  but  one  single  talent,  and  that  talent 
may  be  for  making  money ;  but  if  that  talent  be  sanctified 
so  that  on  all  your  gold  and  silver  is  written  "  Holiness  to 
the  Lord,"  you  may  so  trade  with  the  one  talent  that  it 
may  assume  the  value  of  ten,  and  in  the  work  of  advancing 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  you  may  bear  a  part,  than  which, 
few  can  be  more  honourable  or  attended  with  more  blessed 
results. 

Some  must  always  stand  in  the  forefront  of  battle,  some 
must  be  file-leaders  of  the  hosts,  some  must  go  on  daring  and 
distant  marches  to  the  dark  lands  where  are  planted  the 
strong  fortresses  of  Satan ;  but  others  must  stay  by  the 
stuff,  and  do  foraging  for  the  army,  and  by  toiling  to  fur- 
nish supplies  for  the  hosts,  as  really  take  part  in  the  scenes 
of  warfare  and  of  victory,  as  if  themselves  actually  wield- 
ing the  sword  amidst  the  strife,  or  as  if  going  afar  off  to 
storm  the  old  bulwarks  of  the  devil.  Various  offices  are 
there  in  the  armies  of  light,  and  by  toiling  in  the  counting- 
house,  in  the  shop,  or  on  the  farm,  to  secure  wherewith  to 
help  on  the  hosts  in  the  warfare,  you  can  most  effectually, 


THE     SWORD    OF     THE    WORD.  281 


if  not  in  person,  by  proxy  at  least,  use  the  word  of  God  as 
"  the  sword  of  the  Spirit." 

We  must  not  omit  to  notice  among  the  methods  for  using 
the  word  of  God  as  the  weapon  of  our  warfare,  the  power 
of  the  press.  Amongst  all  the  trophies  which  human 
invention  has  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  Saviour,  for  doing  his 
work  of  giving  knowledge  to  mankind,  there  has  been 
perhaps  no  more  valuable  offering  than  the  power  of  multi- 
plying, perpetuating  and  scattering  abroad  the  truth  by 
the  press.  The  press  seems  to  give,  even  to  the  frail  and 
finite  sons  of  men,  in  a  limited  sense,  the  attributes  of 
ubiquity  and  eartiily  immortality.  It  takes  the  words, 
which,  had  they  but  fallen  from  the  speaker's  lips,  might 
have  died  almost  with  the  voice  that  gave  them  utterance, 
stamps  them  upon  the  page,  renders  them  perpetual, 
translates  them  into  various  languages, — reviving  as  it 
were  the  Pentecostal  gift  of  speaking  in  unknown  tongues, 
— and  sends  them  into  various  and  distant  lands  all  the 
world  over,  to  tell  their  story  to  men  whom  he  who 
uttered  them  has  never  seen  nor  shall  see  until  the  great 
judgment-day.  Then,  when  the  man  of  God  has  finished 
his  work  on  earth,  and  passed  from  his  labours  away  to 
his  eternal  rest ;   the  press  still  keeps  him  here  on  earth 

entreating,  instructing,  and  warning ;  and  often  to  greater 

24* 


282  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


purpose  than  when  he  was  on  earth  and  doing  good  in 
person. 

Eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  at  Jerusalem,  Corinth, 
Ephesus,  Athens,  Rome, — all  around  the  sacred  or  classic 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  apostolic  footsteps  trod,  and 
apostolic  lips  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  and  though  the  long  lapse  of  all  these  centuries 
has  passed  since  those  lips  were  sealed  in  death,  apostolic 
teachings  still  live,  and  in  the  same  strains  which  were 
heard  at  Jerusalem,  Ephesus,  Corinth,  Athens,  Rome, 
they  still  speak  to  you  and  me, — speak  in  this  land  to 
them  unheard  of  and  unknown.  They  speak  in  capitals 
which  long  since  their  day  have  risen  up  to  greatness  and 
bowed  their  knee  to  the  once  dishonoured  Nazarene, — they 
speak  to  the  Chinaman,  the  Hottentot,  and  the  dwellers  in 
the  islands  of  the  sea;  they  speak  to  all  by  the  power  of 
the  press.  And  speak  on  they  shall,  through  the  press  as 
well  as  by  the  ministry,  until  there  shall  be  "  no  speech 
nor  language  where  their  voice  is  not  heard ;" — until  not 
one  son  or  daughter  of  Adam  shall  have  occasion  to  say 
to  his  neighbour,  "  Know  thou  the  Lord,  for  all  shall  know 
him, from  the  least  even  to  the  greatest." 

An  amazing  enginery  for  using  the  word  is  this,  reader ; 
through  its  agency  what  may  you  not  accomplish  for  your 


THE     SWORD    OF    THE    WORD.  283 


Lord  and  Master  ?  Perhaps  you  may  be  able  yourself  to 
speak  through  the  press.  If  not,  can  you  not  by  the  varied 
instrumentalities  familiar  to  the  Christian  world  scatter 
abroad  the  teachings  of  others?  Can  you  not  either  in 
person  or  by  your  contributions,  or  by  both,  send  far  and 
wide  the  Bible  now  furnished  so  cheap,  or  the  numerous, 
admirable,  and  useful  books  and  tracts,  teaching  again  the 
great  truths  of  the  Bible,  and  also  furnished  so  cheap, — so 
that  alongside  the  missionary,  and  perhaps  at  times,  as  the 
forerunner  of  the  missionary,  may  go  the  press,doing  battle 
mightily  for  our  Lord  and  for  his  Christ. 

Let  not  your  own  soul,  then,  let  not  the  world  remain  in 
spiritual  darkness.  Search  the  Scriptures ;  preach  the 
gospel,  send  abroad  the  truth, — by  some  means  employ 
diligently,  faithfully,  and  constantly  the  message  divine, 
that  the  strongholds  of  Satan  may  be  pulled  down,  that 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  may  be  built  up,  and  the  word  of 
God  have  free  course  and  be  glorified.  Become  more 
familiar  with  your  Bible ;  dispense  its  influence  more  freely 
abroad,  and  you  will  not  only  have  an  increase  of  light  and 
comfort  in  your  own  soul,  but  will  do  better  service  in  the 
armies  of  salvation,  as  a  soldier  of  the  cross. 


284     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE. 

"  Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and 
watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and  supplication  for  all 
saints." 

Having  exhibited  the  armour  with  which  the  Christian 
soldier  must  be  arrayed  for  his  conflicts,  the  apostle  now 
calls  our  attention  to  the  spirit  with  which  the  warfare 
must  be  carried  on.  You  are  not  to  go  forth  at  your  own 
charges  or  in  your  own  strength ;  you  must  remember  who 
was  the  artificer  of  this  panoply  and  from  whom  you  re- 
ceived it ;  and  upon  Him  you  must  call  for  wisdom  to 
guide  your  footsteps,  and  for  strength  to  nerve  your  hand. 
Your  eye  is  ever  to  be  fixed  steadily  upon  the  great  Cap- 
tain of  Salvation,  with  the  profound  consciousness  that  it 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR     THE    WARFARE.        285 


is  in  Him  only  that  you  can  hope  for  success.  He  alone 
can  lead  you  on  safely  and  surely  to  battle  and  to  victory. 

You  will  not  wonder  at  an  announcement  such  as  this. 
Is  not  the  soldier  the  servant  of  his  leader  ?  must  he  not 
hear  his  voice,  submit  to  his  will,  and  follow  his  footsteps 
to  conflict  or  to  triumph  ?  Why  then  should  not  you  show 
the  same  allegiance,  soldier  of  the  cross  as  you  are,  and 
obey  the  injunction  of  him  who  has  called  you  to  put  the 
armour  on,  by  "  praying  always,  with  all  prayer  and  sup- 
plication in  the  Spirit." 

Whatever  may  be  the  character  of  other  military  men, 
the  Christian  soldier  must  be  a  man  of  prayer.  This  will 
appear  both  from  his  own  wants,  and  from  the  character  of 
the  Captain  of  his  salvation. 

Among  your  wants  we  may  point  to  your  w^eakness. 
You  have  a  great  battle  to  w^age  against  a  great  enemy. 
The  serried  hosts  of  Marathon  or  Waterloo,  drawn  out  in 
long  and  splendid  array,  might  well  have  appalled  even  an 
experienced  soldier  whose  office  called  him  to  draw  his 
sword  for  that  desperate  battle-strife ;  but  the  hosts  of 
Marathon  and  Waterloo  were  trifles  compared  with  the 
principalities  and  powers  with  which  you  must  contend. 
And  what  are  you  against  such  a  gigantic  enemy ; — an 
enemy  whose  legions  are  almost  countless,  whose  adroit- 


286  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


ness  and  long  experience  are  unequalled  amongst  all  God's 
creatures,  and  whose  long  marches  have  been  signalized  with 
such  numberless  victories  ?  What  are  you  in  yourself  but 
dust  and  ashes,  but  a  poor,  weak,  helpless  worm — in  your 
natural  state  fitly  described  by  inspiration  as  "  without 
strength,"  and  even  when  introduced  into  the  kingdom  of 
God's  dear  Son,  still  constrained  to  say,  "In  me,  that  is,  in 
my  flesh,  dwelleth  no  good  thing:"  "when  I  would  do 
good,  evil  is  present  with  me." 

Utterly  imbecile  as  to  the  conquest  of  your  own  evil 
passions,  how  can  you  in  your  own  strength  stand  against 
the  principalities  and  powers,  and  wiles  of  the  devil? 
If  the  patriarch  was  compelled  to  cry  out  when  trouble 
came  upon  him,  "  All  these  things  are  against  me,"  how 
much  more  appropriate  such  language  to  the  lips  of  the 
frail  soldier  of  the  cross,  when  he  looks  out  upon  the 
long  hosts  of  the  evil  one,  drawn  up  to  crush  him !  How 
appropriate,  too,  that  instead  of  quailing  before  this  for- 
midable array,  and  sheathing  his  sword ;  making  an  inglo- 
rious retreat,  or  allowing  himself  to  be  taken  into  even 
temporary  captivity ;  he  should  turn  his  eye  from  his 
enemy  to  his  helper,  from  his  weakness  to  his  strength  ; 
and,  calling  on  the  great  Captain  of  his  salvation,  advance 
manfully  to  the  struggle,  crying  out  in  the  full  confidence 


THE     SPIRIT     FOR     THE    WARFARE.         287 


of  victory,  "  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  which 
strengtheneth  me." 

The  necessity  for  prayer  to  the  Christian  soldier,  appears 
also  from  his  ignorance.  However  much  he  may  have 
known  and  sadly  felt  of  the  wiles  of  the  devil,  he  has  not 
yet  learned  the  whole  of  his  devices.  Satan's  empire  is 
a  deep  abyss ; — it  is  a  school  in  which,  however  large  your 
experience,  you  will  still  be  a  learner  to  your  dying  day. 
As  regards  many  of  the  wiles  of  Satan,  and  many  of  the 
purposes  of  God's  providence  and  grace,  we  are  the  veriest 
babes. 

What  know  you  of  the  future  even  in  this  life  ?  How 
much  can  you  tell  of  to-morrow,  and  what  it  may  bring 
forth  ? — what  shall  be  its  joys,  its  sorrows,  its  toils,  its 
conflicts  ?  Is  there  sunshine  on  your  path  to-day  ;  are  you 
sure  you  will  not  be  a  mourning  pilgrim  amidst  clouds 
and  storms  to-morrow  ?  "  It  is  not  in  man  that  walketh 
to  direct  his  steps." 

Every  day  brings  with  it  a  thousand  reasons  why  you 
should  call  upon  the  Captain  of  your  salvation  for  wisdom 
in  your  warfare.  You  know  not  where  the  enemy  will 
next  be  met,  whether  he  will  assault  you  in  the  open  field, 
or  spring  from  a  dangerous  ambush,  or  endeavour  to  deceive 
under  the  cover  of  feigned  friendship.     You  cannot  know, 


288      THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


therefore,  how  best  to  guard  against  his  wiles,  nor  what 
weapons  will  be  most  successful  in  turning  back  his  forces. 
Trusting  to  your  own  wisdom,  you  will  be  ever  falling  into 
temptations  and  snares,  and  getting  to  yourself  sore  discom- 
fiture and  bitter  sorrows.  You  will  heedlessly  run  into 
the  very  scenes  most  dangerous  to  your  weak  points.  You 
will  expose  yourself  to  the  very  causes  which  will  most 
powerfully  excite  your  besetting  sins ;  and  be  careless  and 
unguarded  when  danger  stands  thickest  around,  and  the 
enemy  is  just  upon  you.  You  will  be  ever  sinning  and 
repenting,  but  to  sin  and  repent  again  ; — now  perhaps  a 
victor,  and  now  a  mourning  captive.  Christian  soldier, 
must  you  not  have  light  upon  your  path  ?  must  you  not 
hear  the  voice  of  your  great  leader  saying,  "  This  is  the 
way,  walk  ye  in  it  ?"  must  you  not  acknowledge  him  in 
all  your  ways,  that  he  may  direct  your  steps?  Then  you 
must  pray  "  always  with  all  prayer." 

Your  own  past  experience  should  be  argument  enough  to 
show  the  necessity  of  calling  on  the  Captain  of  Salvation 
for  wisdom  and  strength  in  the  warfare.  How  often  have 
you  learned  your  weakness  and  ignorance  from  your  own 
experience,  as  well  as  from  the  declarations  of  God's  word. 
You  have  been  satisfied  with  your  own  wisdom  and  discre- 
tion in  some  emergency,  and  trusting  your  own  heart  have 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR    THE     WARFARE.  289 


found  trouble  and  sorrow  as  the  result.  The  illusions  of 
the  deceitful  world  have  proved  too  much  for  you,  and  far 
into  its  follies  and  cares  you  have  gone ; — far  from  the  path 
of  duty  and  of  peace,  far  from  the  light  of  the  Saviour's 
countenance.  Indwelling  corruptions  have  courted  indulg- 
ence ;  and  their  proposals  have  been  at  first  repulsed,  then 
dallied  with  in  thought,  and  at  last  perhaps  committed  in 
the  overt  act.  Satan,  too,  has  been  busy  all  the  while  with 
other  of  his  agencies  than  the  world  and  the  flesh  ;  and  to 
your  sorrow  you  have  learned,  j^ractically,  your  weakness 
and  ignorance,  and  the  power  of  the  enemy  leagued  against 
you.  Why  not,  then,  learn  lessons  from  the  painful 
remembrances  of  the  past  ?  Experience  is  a  valuable 
teacher;  listen  to  her  instructions.  In  all  your  conflicts  feel 
that  in  order  to  come  off  conqueror,  you  must  in  humble 
faith  and  confidence  call  upon  God  by  prayer. 

These  considerations  are  further  enforced  by  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Captain  of  your  salvation. 

He   is,   first  of  all,  able  to  understand  perfectly  your 

wants.     As  God,  he  is  omniscient.     He  needs  not  that  any 

shall  tell  him  what  is  in  man.    He  is  acquainted  thoroughly 

with  the  human  heart,  that  greatest  of  all  enigmas,  even  to 

him  in  whose  bosom  it  beats.     He  is  familiar  with  your 

entire  past  history  ; — knows  all  your  trials,  conflicts,  falls. 

25 


290     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS, 


He  sees  all  the  future.  Every  circumstance  of  your  coming 
life,  although  to  yourself  enshrouded  in  impenetrable  mys- 
tery, is  to  him  all  naked  and  open, — all  its  joys  and  sorrows, 
all  its  temptations,  dangers  and  triumphs.  He  knows  per- 
fectly your  individual  disposition  and  character ;  —  your 
weak  points,  besetting  sins,  susceptibilities  for  usefulness. 
How  infinitely  well  is  such  a  being  prepared  to  furnish  the 
wisdom  you  so  much  lack ;  how  would  his  perfect  know- 
ledge compensate  for  your  ignorance  I  How  safely  and 
confidently  you  might  march  against  any  foe  at  his  com- 
mand I  How  sweet  to  feel  that  under  the  guidance  of  such 
a  leader  you  may  go  forth  to  toils  and  dangers,  with  the 
full  assurance  that  you  are  in  paths  of  righteousness ;  and 
knowing  that  he  that  walketh  uprightly  walketh  safely. 
What  soldier  would  not  desire  always  to  keep  steadily  in 
view,  and  ever  hear  the  voice,  of  the  great  Captain  who 
always  knows  and  always  requires  only  that  which  is  right? 
Consider,  also,  that  the  Captain  of  your  salvation  is  pos- 
sessed of  infinite  power.  The  strength  and  ability  to  carry 
out  their  purposes  with  all  creatures  is  limited.  Some 
possess  this  attribute  in  larger  measure  than  others,  but 
with  all  it  has  its  bounds.  But  your  leader  is  divine,  and 
with  him  all  things  are  possible.  "  All  things  were  made 
by  him,  and  without  him  was  not  any  thing  made  which  is 


THE     SPIRIT     FOR    THE    WARFARE.        291 


made."  He  has  power  over  angels,  and  could  have  called 
ten  legions  to  do  his  bidding,  even  amidst  his  poverty  and 
sorrows  when  on  earth.  He  has  power  over  men,  and  can 
save  or  can  destroy ; — can  say  to  the  most  daring  opposer 
of  his  kingdom,  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  further." 
He  has  power  over  Satan,  and  has  quelled  him  in  his 
attempts  upon  himself,  and  conquered  him  in  the  hearts  of 
all  the  glorified  saints  above;  he  has  power  over  death, 
having  burst  its  bars,  and  led  captivity  captive ;  he  has 
universal  control,  and  "  maketh  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  that  are  called  accord- 
ing to  his  purpose."  He  has  power  to  forgive  sins,  and  to 
put  all  the  enemies  of  himself  and  his  people  under  him  ;  for 
"  he  shall  reign  until  he  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet." 
Now,  Christian  soldier,  what  think  you  of  a  leader  such  as 
this  ?  Why  may  you  not  with  confidence  follow  one  whose 
power  is  matchless,  and  whose  ultimate  victory  must  be 
certain,  against  any  and  all  enemies  ?  How  well  suited  is 
he  to  your  necessities ;  how  his  strength  is  made  perfect  in 
your  weakness ;  how,  following  Christ,  you  may  go  fear- 
lessly at  his  call  into  any  danger,  knowing  that  greater  is 
he  that  is  for  you  than  those  that  are  against  you, — that, 
however  vast  the  apparent  odds,  and  hard  the  struggle,  and 
dark  the  day,  in  the  end  you  will  be  brought  off  conqueror. 


292  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS, 


and  more  than  conqueror,  through  him  that  loved  you. 
How  important,  then,  to  keep  ever  near  your  all-powerful 
leader, — to  be  much  at  the  mercy  seat — to  "  pray  always 
with  all  prayer  and  supplication." 

We  are  further  encouraged  to  call  on  God  our  Saviour  in 
the  midst  of  our  spiritual  march,  by  the  fact  that  he  has 
a  heart  of  the  most  tender  sensibilities  and  sympathies. 
This  cannot  always  be  said  of  those  to  whose  hands  the 
soldier's  services  and  welfare  are  committed.  The  martial 
spirit  amongst  men  has  not  usually  been  favourable  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  tender  emotions.  Hardship  and  fami- 
liarity with  suffering  and  death,  have  often  made  the  vete- 
ran leader  callous  to  the  enormous  woes  which  his  j^rofes- 
sion  involves ;  or  selfishness  and  towering  ambition  have 
made  him  willing  to  pour  out  human  blood  without  measure 
and  without  pity.  So  is  it  not  with  him  in  whose  service 
you  are  enlisted.  No  stoical  indifference,  no  blunted  sen- 
sibilities, no  haughty  reserve,  no  towering  ambition,  induc- 
ing recklessness  to  all  mortal  woes — none  of  these  belong 
to  the  Captain  of  our  salvation.  Though  all-powerful,  and 
all-wise,  he  is  ready  to  stoop  to  the  poorest  and  meanest 
of  his  followers,  and  to  sympathize  with  all  his  trials.  He 
has  a  heart  that  can  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities :  having  been  in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we 


THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE.        293 


are,  yet  without  sin.  He  was  made  perfect  for  his  office  by 
passing  through  the  ordeal  of  sorrow.  He  has  himself  been 
on  the  field,  and  in  the  hardest  of  the  fight ;  and  though 
seemingly  conquered  for  a  season,  came  off  a  glorious  vic- 
tor ;  and,  remembering  this,  he  feels  for  all  his  faithful  fol- 
lowers, who,  in  pursuing  his  footsteps,  are  striving  against 
the  powers  of  darkness.  Strong  temptations  from  Satan 
and  the  world,  the  hidings  of  his  Father's  face,  intense 
physical  anguish,  and  the  bitterest  cups  of  mental  sorrow — 
all  these  have  been  his  own ;  and,  though  now  enthroned 
above,  he  has  neither  forgotten  these,  nor  forgotten  the 
humble  faithful  ones  who  are  coming  after  him  through 
much  tribulation. 

His,  too,  is  no  common  sympathy; — he  is  a  friend  who 
sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.  His  love  does  not  end  in 
mere  profession ;  he  has  shown  it  practically,  in  his  exile 
from  heaven,  his  life  of  poverty,  and  in  the  pains  and  dis- 
honours of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary.  Are  you  tempted, 
desponding,  sorrowing,  suffering  in  mind,  body  or  estate? 
Are  you  wrestling  hard  against  the  principalities  and  powers 
of  Satan,  or  against  the  cravings  of  flesh  and  blood  ?  Does 
the  battle  seem  long — the  odds  much  against  you — the 
result  uncertain,  and   yom-  helpers  far  away  ?     Soldier  of 

the   cross,  thy  conflicts  are  not  unseen  nor  unpitied — thy 

2-5* 


294     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


helper  is  not  far  away ;  thy  sorrows  will  not  be  greater 
than  thou  canst  bear,  nor  thy  foes  prove  too  much  for  thee. 
Although  unseen  by  mortal  eyes,  he  who  called  you  from 
darkness  to  light  is  very  near  you ;  he  has  a  feeling  for  your 
infirmities,  and  declares  he  will  never  leave  nor  forsake 
you. 

Wherever  duty  may  call  you,  whether  it  be  to  labour  for 
Christ  in  your  own  or  in  other  lands ;  whatever  may  be  the 
nature  of  the  hardships,  trials,  and  sorrows  you  encounter, 
still  there  remains  this  promise,  "I  will  never  leave  thee 
nor  forsake  thee."  The  glorious  Captain  of  Salvation 
hovers  ever  around  his  moving  militant  hosts,  warning  the 
unruly,  comforting  the  feeble-minded,  supporting  the  weak, 
and  exercising  great  patience  towards  all ; — now  leading 
them  in  green  pastures  and  beside  still  waters,  and  making 
a  table  for  them  even  in  the  presence  of  their  enemies  ;  and 
now  cheering  them  on  with  his  sweet  voice  when  the  storm 
of  battle  thunders  loudest ;  and  tenderly  caring  for  them 
by  binding  up  and  mollifying  the  wounds  of  those  that 
have  been  pierced  by  the  fiery  darts  of  the  evil  one. 

That  your  leader  should  be  all-wise  and  all-powerful 
would  seem  to  offer  irresistible  reasons  for  enlisting  in  his 
service,  and  ever  obeying  his  commands  with  the  utmost 
confidence  and  cheerfulness ;  but  when  he  is  also  all  tender- 


THE     SPIRIT     FOR    THE     WARFARE.        295 


ness  and  sympathy  for  his  militant  hosts,  surely  he  has 
claims  upon  your  devotion  altogether  beyond  our  highest 
conception.  Not  call  upon  a  leader  such  as  this,  amidst 
the  fight  with  flesh  and  blood,  and  the  powers  of  the  devil  ? 
not  seek  from  him  wisdom  and  grace  ?  not  keep  your  eye 
always  upon  him,  and  your  ear  always  open  to  catch  the 
first  accents  of  his  voice  ?  This  cannot  be.  If  you  are 
enlisted  as  his  follower  in  sincerity  and  truth,  you  will  have 
felt  the  drawings  of  his  tenderness,  as  well  as  seen  the  tri- 
umphs of  his  power ;  you  will  have  learned  to  cry  unto  him 
as  your  ever-present  helper ;  and  will  thus  in  some  measure 
have  fulfilled  the  injunction  to  pray  "  always  with  all 
prayer  and  supplication." 


296  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE. 

"  Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and 
watching  thereunto,  with  all  perseverance  and  supplication  for  all 
saints." 

The  soldier  in  the  armies  of  salvation  must  not  only  learn 
to  pray,  but  as  the  apostle  teaches  us,  he  must  "  pray 
always."  The  powers  against  which  he  wages  his  warfare 
are  so  formidable  and  vigilant,  that  he  must  never  cease  to 
'call  for  help  on  Him  who  alone  can  inspire  his  heart  with 
courage,  and  nerve  his  arm  for  victory.  The  Christian 
must  pray  "  always." 

Not  literally  must  he  pray  always ;  for  then  he  could 
have  no  time  to  take  necessary  food  and  rest ;  nor  to 
pursue  an  honest  calling  and  thereby  provide  for  his 
household ;    nor  even   time  for   hearing  or   speaking   the 


THE     SPIRIT     FOR    THE     WARFARE.        297 


word,  or  doing  works  of  charity,  or  discharging  other 
obligations  of  the  spiritual  soldier.  In  all  these  things 
you  can  and  ought  to  glorify  God  just  as  really  as  in 
praying.  "  Whether  therefore  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  what- 
soever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God." 

But  the  apostle  means,  that  we  must  always  breathe  the 
spirit  of  prayer.  We  must  be  in  constant  readiness  for 
uttering  the  language  of  prayer,  always  in  our  place  where 
prayer  is  wont  to  be  offered,  and  of  course  frequent  in  the 
exercise  of  this  gift.  In  order  properly  to  carry  out  the 
injunction  to  pray  always,  it  will  be  necessary  of  course 
that 

You  should  pray  in  the  sanctuary.  Not  audibly, 
indeed,  in  the  great  congregation,  unless  we  may  be 
ministers  doing  the  offices  of  the  sanctuary,  but  in  your 
heart  you  may  and  ought  to  pray,  as  did  Hannah  when 
wrestling  with  God,  even  though  your  lips  move  not  as 
did  Hannah's.  In  the  depths  of  your  spirit  there  may  be' 
strivings  harder,  and  utterings  louder  in  the  ear  of  heaven, 
than  any  that  are  seen  or  heard  of  men.  The  Spirit  of 
God  can  be  worshipped  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  in  the 
long-drawn  yearnings  of  the  inmost  soul,  as  really  as  with 
the  bended  knee,  and  the  petitions  poured  from  eloquent 
lips ;    and  in   the  spirit,  at  least,  you  should  join  in  the 


298  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


prayers  of  the  sanctuary.  These  sanctuary  services  are 
the  drillings  of  the  troops.  Here  they  burnish  their 
weapons  and  gird  them  on  afresh,  receive  lessons  of 
wisdom  and  inspirations  of  valor,  hear  new  orders  for  the 
camp  and  the  field,  and  not  unfrequently  have  at  least 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  Why  then  should  not  all  from 
their  hearts  pray  in  the  sanctuary  ? 

Rarely  is  there  to  be  seen  amongst  those  calling  them- 
selves Christians,  a  spectacle  more  unbecoming  the  profes- 
sion and  the  occasion,  and  to  our  apprehension  more  dis- 
pleasing in  the  sight  of  God,  than  to  see  those  who  have 
named  the  name  of  Jesus,  with  eyes  wandering  like  the 
fools,  with  an  attitude  of  irreverence,  and  with  obviously 
no  feeling  in  common  with  the  language  which  is  uttered 
in  the  prayers  of  the  sactuary.  The  minister  is  not  to  do 
all  the  praying  for  the  people.  God  admits  no  human 
proxy  here.  Not  only  the  minor  officers  along  the  ranks, 
but  the  whole  hosts  are  to  join  in  the  yearnings  of  the  soul, 
and  the  outgoings  of  faith,  love,  and  penitence,  in  the  callings 
upon  God  in  his  house.  Like  the  great  armies  of  the 
middle  ages,  marching  to  the  rescue  of  the  land  of  the 
Messiah  from  the  rule  of  the  infidel,  or  like  the  army  of 
Cromwell  in  the  midst  of  the  work  they  felt  commissioned 
to  do  for  God,  the  hosts  of  the  militant  church  must, when 


THE    SPIRIT     FOR     THE     WARFARE.         299 


summoned  to  the  courts  of  the  sanctuary,  with  one  accord 
prostrate  themselves  before  the  Lord  their  Maker. 

The  Christian  soldier  must  also  pray  in  the  more  private 
and  social  assemblies  of  God's  people.  As  the  disciples 
were  met  together  on  the  morning  of  Pentecost,  or  as  the 
many  who  were  gathered  together  praying  for  Peter  and 
for  themselves  at  the  house  of  Mary  the  mother  of  John, 
so  must  the  followers  of  Christ  now  meet  together  in  one 
place  for  united  prayer.  We  are,  from  our  nature,  social 
beings ;  we  are  accustomed  to  go  together  to  do  evil ;  in 
seeking  worldly  pleasures  we  mingle  in  social  bands  ;  why 
not  introduce  the  social  element  also  into  the  employments 
of  the  spiritual  kingdom  ?  Not  only  do  our  very  natures, 
however,  sanction  the  authority  of  God's  word  on  this  sub- 
ject, but  observation  and  experience  teach  its  necessity  and 
importance.  How  often  has  the  weak,  desponding  saint  gone 
to  the  circles  where  he  was  wont  to  meet  his  brethren  in 
prayer,  with  sorrow  of  heart,  and  come  away  with  joy  and 
gladness.  How  often  has  his  spirit  sunk  within  him  when 
he  looked  over  the  desolations  of  Zion,  and  the  triumphs 
of  the  evil  one,  until  he  had  tested  the  promise  that 
where  two  or  three  were  met  together  there  the  Master 
would  be ;  and  then  he  has  come  away  contented  under  the 
assurance  that  the  God  of  grace  is  also  the  God  of  provi- 


300  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE    CROSS. 


dence ;  that  He  sees  all  this  flood  of  evil,  and  hates  sin 
more,  and  loves  the  kingdom  of  his  Son  far  more  than  we 
do  ;  and  that  v^^e  may  safely  trust  all  these  things  to  him, 
believing  that  he  doeth  all  things  well.  What  individual 
church  prospers  so  much  as  that  in  which  the  humble  fol- 
lowers of  the  Saviour  are  accustomed  statedly,  numerously, 
and  spiritually,  to  meet  together  for  social  prayer  ?  The 
members  of  these  praying  circles  are  tried  veterans ;  they 
make  up  the  life-guard  of  the  army.  If  you  would  be 
constant,  faithful,  and  reliable,  as  are  they,  let  not  your 
place  be  vacant  in  the  place  for  social  prayer. 

The  family  circle  is  also  a  most  fit  place  for  prayer. 
Endearments  bind  together  the  members  of  the  same  house- 
hold,— sharers  of  the  same  flesh  and  blood,  which  are  found 
of  the  same  kind  and  to  the  same  degree  nowhere  else  on 
earth.  The  dwellers  in  this  common  home,  too,  have  a 
common  share  in  the  blessings  and  the  trials  which  befall 
their  habitation.  They  are  fed  at  the  same  board,  repose 
under  the  same  roof,  and  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  one  are 
very  much  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  the  group.  What  a  place 
those  parents  hold,  too,  in  this  little  empire.  How  their 
words  have  power,  and  their  will  is  law,  and  their  very 
footsteps  are  walked  in ;  and  how  those  whom  God  has 
given  them    are  prized  beyond  all  earthly  things,  as  the 


THE    SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE.        301 


jewels  of  their  casket.  Where,  where  on  all  this  footstool 
of  the  dispenser  of  our  mercies,  should  God  be  acknow- 
ledged, if  not  here  ?  Shall  not  the  voice  of  gratitude  and 
praise  ascend  from  that  board  spread  with  plenty,  and 
around  an  altar  reared  for  the  mornino-  and  the  eveninsf's 
sacrifice  of  humble  and  grateful  hearts  ?  You  may  not 
only  burnish  your  own  armour,  and  find  refreshment  for 
your  own  spirit  here,  soldier  of  Christ,  but  here  is  a 
favoured  spot  on  which  to  train  recruits  to  join  the  sacra- 
mental hosts.     You  should  pray  in  your  family. 

And  in  "praying  always"  you  must  of  course  pray  in 
your  closet.  He  who  prays  not  in  his  closet, — are  we  not 
warranted  in  saying — prays  not  at  all.  This  closet  pray- 
ing,— is  it  not  that  for  which  our  Lord  gives  explicit 
directions,  and  of  which  we  hav^e  the  most  illustrious 
examples  in  the  history  of  our  blessed  Master,  and  of  both 
the  Old  and  New  Testament  saints?  "When  thouprayest, 
enter  into  thy  closet;  and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door, 
pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret;  and  thy  Father 
which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly."  Such 
are  the  words  of  the  Saviour.  How  did  he,  himself,  con- 
tinue all  night  in  prayer,  and  rise  a  great  while  before  day 
that  he  might  go  alone  to  wrestle  with  God ;   how  did 

David  call  seven  times  a  day  on  the  Lord,  and  then  again 

26 


302     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS 


through  the  long  night-watches ;  how  did  Daniel  kneel 
in  his  chamber  three  times  a  day,  and  pray  and  give 
thanks  unto  God,  even  though  he  knew  that  for  so 
doing  he  must  be  cast  into  the  den  of  lions.  Calvin's 
breath  stained  the  wall  where  he  was  accustomed  to  kneel, 
so  much  did  he  pray ;  John  Welch  kept  a  plaid  upon  his 
bed  to  wrap  himself  in  when  he  arose  in  the  night  to  pray ; 
and  when  another  man  of  God  died,  his  knees  were  found 
indurated  like  the  soles  of  his  feet,  because  of  his  spending 
so  much  of  his  time  in  prayer. 

These  communings  of  the  closet, — are  they  not  like 
springs  of  cooling  water  to  the  soldier  on  his  wearisome 
march  through  the  arid  desert  of  this  sinful,  sorrowful 
world  ?  Sweet  are  the  seasons  in  the  sanctuary,  the  social 
meeting,  and  at  the  family  altar ;  but  sweeter  still  those,  when, 
from  the  toils  and  strife  of  life,  you  pass  away  to  where 
there  are  none  but  God  and  yourself, — where  you  can  shut 
the  door,  and  tell  all  the  story  even  of  griefs  and  conflicts 
that  no  other  must  know ;  and  confess  your  short-comings, 
and  wrestle  for  mercy, — pour  out  your  tears  and  your  full 
soul  together,  until,  when  coming  away,  you  feel  that  your 
burden  is  gone,  and  your  fears  all  removed,  and  as  if  you 
had  been  on  the  Mount  and  seen  things  which  it  would  not 
be    lawful    to   utter.     Prayer   in   the    closet   is   not    only 


THE    SPIRIT     FOR    THE     WARFARE.        303 


essential  to  praying  at  all,  but  vital  to  the  existence  of 
piety. 

And  last  of  all,  in  order  to  pray  "  always"  you  must 
practise  ejaculatory  prayer.  Dear  as  is  the  place  where, 
retired  from  the  world,  you  hold  solitary  communings  with 
God,  still  there  may  and  should  be  much  of  prayer  in  the 
intervals  between  your  w'restlings  in  that  privileged  Bethel. 
Out  in  the  din  and  strife  of  the  world,  where  temptations 
from  mankind,  your  business,  the  devil  and  sin,  come  in 
thick  and  powerful  array, — that  is  no  place  for  relaxing 
in  prayer.  The  petitions  of  the  closet  may  be  heard  and 
answered,  indeed,  in  your  safe-keeping  when  away  from 
its  walls ;  and  he  who  most  earnestly  wrestles  at  the  outset 
of  the  day  that  he  may  not  be  led  into  temptation,  but  be 
delivered  from  evil,  will  be  most  likely  to  find,  w^hen  the 
evening  has  come,  that  the  angel  of  the  Lord  has  encamped 
round  about  him  through  the  intervening  time ;  but  if  he 
would  walk  steadfastly  and  safely,  and  come  back  victori- 
ous from  his  numberless  skirmishes  and  heavy  assaults, 
there  must  be  other  communications  than  those  of  the 
closet,  between  his  Lord  and  his  soul.  Hence  there 
must  be  prayer  by  ejaculation ;  and  in  case  we  had  looked 
upon  prayer  as  a  weapon,  we  might  have  called  prayers 
of  ejaculation  the  small  arms  of  the  warfare. 


304  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


Ejaculatory  prayer  requires  not  the  sanctuary,  the  more 
retired  circles,  nor  the  closet,  although  in  either  it  may  and 
ought  to  be  offered ;  but  by  the  way-side,  in  the  thronged 
streets,  amidst  the  cares  of  commerce  and  trade,  or  in  the 
social  enjoyments  of  life,  it  is  not  only  appropriate,  but 
seems  the  only  resort  for  keeping  up  close  communication 
between  the  soul  and  heaven.     A  single  wish  of  the  inmost 
spirit,  a  groan  unuttered,  an  unspoken  sentence,  a  yearning 
of  the  heart  directed  to  the  throne  above,  may  reach  the 
ear  of  Him  who  never  fails  to  guard  his  tried  and  tempted 
ones  ;  and  bring  the  blessing  down  just  at  the  moment  when 
that  blessing  is  most  needed.     Under  the  sudden  invasions 
of  anger,  envy,  pride,  lust,  covetousness,  revenge,  despon- 
dency,  let  the  heart  go  right  up  in  an  instant  to   your 
great  Leader,  and  there  shall  come  the  needed  help.    Thus,^ 
by  praying  in  the  sanctuary,  the  social  meeting,  the  domestic 
circle,  and  the  closet,   and   ever  sending   up   prayers    of 
ejaculation,  you  will  at  least  in  a  measure  have  fulfilled 
the  apostolic  injunction  to  pray  "  always  with  all  prayer," 
— you  wull  not  only  have  girded  on  the  armour,  met  the 
enemy,  and  encountered  the  evil  day,  but  you  will  also 
have  imbibed  the  spirit  for  the  warfare. 


THE    SPIRIT     FOR    THE     WARFARE.        305 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR    THE     WARFARE. 

"  Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and 
watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and  supplication  for  all 
saints." 

So  important  is  the   spirit  of  the  warfare  to  the  proper  use 

of  your  armour,  and  the  right  issue  of  your  conflicts,  that 

yet  a  few  other  pages  must  be  occupied  with  this  theme. 

In  order  rightly  to  pray,  we  must  pray  "  in  the  Spirit," 

or  under  the  teachings  and  wuth  the  intercession  of  the 

third  person  of  the  ever-blessed  Trinity.     What  the  Spirit 

would  teach  us  to  pray  for,  or  with  what  disposition  we 

must  call  upon  our  great  Captain  for  aid,  we  may  learn  from 

the  Scriptures ;  but  how  he  aids  us  by  his  direct  operations 

on  the  soul,  is  not  distinctly  to  be  known  by  us  here.     "  The 

26* 


306  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound 
thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh  or  whither  it 
goeth:  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."  "We 
know  not  what  to  pray  for  as  we  ought,  but  the  Spirit 
helpeth  our  infirmities  with  groanings  which  cannot  be 
uttered."  This  divine  agent  suggests  to  our  minds  the 
things  we  need,  and  the  times  in  which  we  need  them ; 
quickens  our  desires  to  have  them ;  gives  us  the  spirit  of 
prayer,  and  then  aids  us  directly  with  those  mysterious 
groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered.  If  we  would  pray  "  in 
the  Spirit,"  we  must  pray 

With  humility.  Who  ever  heard  of  a  proud,  haughty 
beggar  ?  Soldier  as  you  are,  you  are  still  a  beggar,  and 
all  the  wisdom  and  strength  you  possess,  is  but  the  free 
and  unmerited  gift  of  a  kind  and  merciful  God.  What 
have  you  that  you  have  not  received?  your  food  and 
raiment, — your  property,  health,  life,  and  reason ;  your 
nature  renewed,  and  all  spiritual  graces ; — have  they  not 
been  bestowed  by  Him  who  is  the  author  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift  ?  The  prayers  of  the  Scriptures  are  remarkable 
for  their  humility.  Witness  those  of  the  patriarchs,  of  the 
prophets,  of  the  psalmist ;  those  of  the  publican,  the  dying 
thief  and  the  prodigal ; — how  they  all  show  the  broken 
and  the  contrite  heart. 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE.        807 


God  must  be  honoured,  and  self  abased.  "  To  this  man 
will  I  look,"  saith  the  Lord ;  "even  to  him  that  is  of  a  poor 
and  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at  my  word."  No  man 
who  comes  to  the  mercy-seat  thanking  God  that  he  is  not 
as  other  men,  boasting  of  his  good  works  and  puffed  up  with 
self-sufficiency,  can  find  acceptance  there.  No  ear  is  open  to 
hear  such  announcements  of  a  righteousness  which,  after  all, 
is  but  as  filthy  rags.  No  hand  will  be  stretched  out  to  help 
him  who  feels  as  if  he  had  been  an  all-sufficient  helper  to 
himself.  Like  the  poor  Syro-Phoenician.  woman,  you  must 
come  counting  yourself  happy  if  you  may  but  eat  the 
crumbs  with  the  dogs ;  or  take  part  with  her  whose  highest 
aspiration  seemed  to  be  but  to  touch  the  hem  of  the  Master's 
garment.  Get  down  in  the  dust.  Christian  soldier.  Fear 
not  to  bow  your  lofty  crest  nor  to  soil  your  armour ;  and 
learn  from  experience,  that  whilst  the  Captain  of  your 
Salvation  bringeth  down  high  looks,  he  also  has  pity  upon 
and  exalteth  those  that  have  humbled  themselves. 

Your  praying  must  also  be  with  an  entire  acquiescence 
in  the  will  of  your  great  Leader.  Why  should  not  God  order 
all  things  according  to  his  own  will,  as  to  the  supply  of 
your  wants,  and  the  general  interests  of  his  kingdom  ?  Is 
he  not  wiser  than  we  ?  Is  he  not  better  than  we  ?  Is  he 
not  the  leader  and  proprietor  of  the  militant  hosts,  whilst 


308  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS, 


we  are  but  poor  dependent  soldiers  in  the  ranks  ?  Must 
the  soldier  not  look  to  his  captain  for  help  ?  Is  he  warranted 
in  dictating  to  his  great  superior  just  how,  when,  and 
where  He  shall  help  him?  or  in  murmuring  because  the 
help  does  not  come  just  as  soon  or  just  in  the  way  he  had 
expected  ? 

"  My  ways  are  not  your  ways,  neither  are  my  thoughts 
your  thoughts,  saith  the  Lord."  "  As  far  as  the  heaven  is 
above  the  earth,  so  are  my  thoughts  higher  than  your 
thoughts."  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way  his  wonders 
to  perform.  He  sees  further,  takes  in  unspeakably  more 
of  the  scope  of  things  in  their  great  bearings  on  the  future 
of  time  and  the  greater  future  of  eternity,  than  can  his 
poor  finite  worms.  He  knows  the  disposition  of  him  who 
seeks  his  help,  and  how  far  it  may  be  best  to  withhold  the 
blessing  for  a  season,  and  thus  try  his  faith ;  or  allow  him 
to  feel  something  of  the  power  of  the  adversary,  that 
henceforth  he  may  hate  the  tempter  more,  and  henceforth 
more  prize  the  help  which  can  avail  in  an  extremity  so 
great.  His  promise  may  seem  to  tarry  long,  but  it 
will  not  fail ;  weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy 
cometh  in  the  morning ;  and  though  you  do  not  know  now 
why  you  are  apparently  so  deserted,  shut  up  in  darkness, 
burdened  down  with  crosses,   and  left  to  hard  struggles 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR     THE     WARFARE.        309 


with  the  deadly  assaults  of  the  enemy ;  yet  you  shall  know 
hereafter,  and  know  too  that  all  was  right,  and  all  for  the 
best. 

It  is  not  the  way  of  him  we  follow,  always  to  remove 
the  sore  evils  we  encounter.  He  often  leaves  us  to  struggle 
with  them  long ; — even  to  life's  last  hour  to  bear  about  us 
these  hateful  foes  to  our  peace,  ever  waging  the  warfare, 
and  after  all  just  keeping  the  enemy  at  bay,  without  driving 
him  utterly  and  forever  from  the  field.  Paul  had  a  thorn 
in  his  flesh  to  fight  with,  and  prayed  hard  for  its  removal. 
His  prayer  was  answered,  not  by  the  extraction  of  the 
thorn,  but  by  leaving  it  there,  and  then  giving  grace  to 
blunt  its  sting  and  neutralize  its  poison. 

Humiliating  must  it  have  been  to  Paul  ever  to  bear  this 
thorn  about ;  but  that  thorn  was  made  his  teacher,  to  give 
him  lessons  in  humility ;  to  show  him  the  constant  neces- 
sity of  grace  to  help  him ;  and  thus  at  last  to  give  him  a 
better  victory  than  if  the  special  cause  of  grievance  had 
been  displaced.  So  it  may  be  with  you.  Calling  for  help, 
that  help  may  not  come  as  you  expect  and  desire  it,  but 
come  it  will,  for  praying  breath  was  never  spent  in  vain ; 
and  come  in  a  better  way  than  you  could  have  have  dic- 
tated. God  knows  what  is  best  for  his  poor  tempted,  sor- 
rowing children ;  and  you  may  cast  your  cares  upon  him, 


310  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


and  then  leave  him  to  choose  the  method  by  which  the 
victory  shall  be  given. 

Pray,  too,  with  perseverance.  If  the  call  is  not  heard  at 
once,  let  it  be  repeated ;  and  still  lift  up  the  cry,  for  your 
Saviour  loveth  importunity.  Witness  the  poor  widow,  who 
by  her  importunity  prevailed  even  with  an  unjust  judge  ; — 
how  much  more  may  you  expect  success,  if  equally  impor- 
tunate with  him  who  is  not  only  just,  but  merciful  and  full 
of  tenderness,  and  who  has  bound  himself  by  covenant  obli- 
gations to  afford  mercy  and  grace  in  every  time  of  need. 
Witness  the  case  of  him  who  went  in  the  night  season  to 
his  neighbour's  house  in  search  of  bread,  and  was  denied, 
because  the  neighbor  with  his  children  were  in  bed,  and  did 
not  wish  their  rest  disturbed ;  but  who  persevered  in  his 
appeals  until  the  bed  was  forsaken,  the  door  opened,  and 
the  bread  given.  "  I  waited  patiently,"  or  perseveringly, 
"for  the  Lord,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "and  he  inclined  unto 
me  and  heard  my  prayer."  Occasional  petitions,  or  peti- 
tions offered  and  not  repeated,  argue  a  meagre  interest  in 
the  object  asked  for ;  perseverance  and  importunity  imply 
deep  concern,  earnestness  of  soul,  confidence  in  the  power 
and  willingness  of  God  to  hear  and  help ; — and  with  such 
confidence  God  is  honoured.  Do  not  despair  because  the 
answer  is   delayed ;    but  let  this    delay  excite  to  louder, 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE.        311 


lonsrer,  and  more  earnest  calls,  and  rest  assured  that  Israel's 
helper  will  be  yours. 

Faith  is  also  an  indispensable  element  in  this  calling  upon 
God.  He  would  have  us  "  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he 
is  the  re  warder  of  them  who  diligently  seek  him."  His  in- 
finite power  and  willingness  ;  his  boundless  resources,  which 
no  giving  can  impoverish  ;  his  provisions  for  affording  help; 
the  illustrious  examples  of  successful  prayer  he  has  put  on 
sacred  record,  and  his  enjoining  it  as  a  duty  as  well  as  a 
privilege  to  seek  his  grace, — all  these  afford  strong  grounds 
on  which  to  rest  your  faith  in  prayer.  He  has  even  con- 
descended to  argue  w'ith  your  unbelief  in  this  respect,  point- 
ing you  to  the  father  who  will  not  mock  his  child  who  asks 
him  for  bread  or  an  egg,  by  giving  him  a  stone  or  a  serpent, 
and  then  putting  to  you  the  unanswerable  interrogatory, 
"  How  much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give 
good  gifts  to  them  that  ask  him?"  See  how  Elias  pre- 
vailed by  faith,  when  he  prayed  that  it  might  not  rain, 
and  it  did  not;  and  when  he  prayed  that  it  might  rain, 
and  lo,  the  refreshing  showers  came  down.  "  All  things 
whatsoever    ye   shall    ask   in   prayer,   believing,  ye  shall 


receive." 


Vigilance  must  also  be  coupled  with  praying,  in  order  to 
pray  always  in  the  Spirit.     "  Praying  always  with  all  prayer 


312  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


and  supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto," 
says  the  apostle.  We  must  watch  unto  prayer.  There 
must  be  sentinels  in  every  army.  Every  soldier  must  be  at 
times  a  sentinel ;  but  in  the  great  armies  of  salvation,  every- 
soldier  must  be  a  sentinel,  and  a  sentinel  always.  Here 
there  can  be  no  rotation  in  this  duty ;  no  hours  for  rest  are 
here  allowed.  The  enemy  knows  no  sleep  nor  weariness — 
neither  must  you,  or  you  give  him  the  advantage.  Learn 
lessons  of  wisdom  even  from  him.  Watch  his  every  move- 
ment ;  look  for  him  even  in  the  distance ;  when  he  seems 
reposing  on  his  arms,  keep  your  eye  upon  him ;  remember- 
ing the  breaches  he  has  made  in  former  assaults,  guard  with 
the  greater  vigilance  those  weaker  points  ;  watch  for  oppor- 
tunities for  taking  him  at  advantage,  and  in  such  seasons 
bestir  yourself  for  vigorous  and  mighty  onsets.  Who  that 
watches  for  opportunities  for  doing  good  will  fail  to  find 
daily  and  hourly  occasions  for  accomplishing  something  for 
his  Master? — opportunities  even  amidst  the  toil  of  business, 
as  well  as  in  the  more  private  intercourse  of  life,  and  the 
more  strictly  spiritual  employments. 

This  watching  furnishes  the  material  for  prayer.  Watch- 
ing against  temptation,  we  call  upon  God  at  its  approach ; 
watching  for  occasions  of  usefulness,  we  lift  up  our 
hearts  for  help  when  those  occasions  come.     The  man  of 


THE    SPIRIT     FOR    THE     WARFARE.        313 


trade  watches  the  changes  in  commerce,  that  he  may  take 
advantage  of  them  to  enlarge  his  gains ;  the  politician 
watches  the  ever-varying  tide  of  public  sentiment,  that  he 
may  catch  the  rising  floods,  and  ride  upon  them  to  the  haven 
of  human  power  and  glory.  Why  should  not  you,  in  your 
great  conflict  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  not  only  fight, 
and  pray  as  you  fight,  but  also,  in  like  manner,  "  watch 
thereunto  ?" 

In  order  to  complete  the  spirit  for  the  warfare,  your 
praying  must  be  with  an  enlarged  benevolence.  You 
must  embrace  within  the  scope  of  your  supplications  "  all 
saints,"  according  to  the  instructions  of  the  apostle;  and  as 
the  following  verse  intimates,  you  must  not  fail  to  embrace 
among  these  the  ministry. 

The  spirit  of  true  piety  is  generous,  expansive,  benevo- 
lent. The  blessings  the  believer  receives  for  himself,  he 
would  also  have  imparted  to  others.  He  feels  for  his  fellow- 
soldiers,  enlisted  against  a  common  foe,  exposed  to  the  same 
wiles,  oppressed  with  the  same  trials,  encompassed  with  the 
same  infirmities,  and  aiming  at  the  same  great  and  glorious 
end.  "Is  any  among  you  aflflicted,"  said  Paul,  "so  am  I;" 
and  so  will  every  true  follower  say  with  regard  to  his  com- 
panions in   toil,  the  soldiers  in  the   church   militant.     A 

brotherhood  are  they  all ;  the  triumph  of  one  or  the  over- 

27 


314     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


throw  of  one,  would  be  the  triumph  or  the  discomfiture  of 
the  common  cause.  How  much  this  mutual  sympathy 
and  remembrance  at  the  throne  of  grace,  too,  tends  to  sup- 
press heart-burnings,  jealousies,  and  self-seeking,  and  to 
make  the  whole  body  one  harmonious,  united  mass !  And 
as  the  ministry  are,  in  some  sense,  file-leaders  of  the  hosts, 
and  their  position  demands  peculiar  wisdom,  circumspec- 
tion, consistency,  and  zeal,  of  how  much  importance  is  it 
that,  when  the  cries  go  up  for  help,  and  "  all  saints"  are 
remembered,  these  under-officers  of  the  army  should  have 
a  place  in  the  prayers  that  are  oifered  !  A  faithful,  fearless, 
energetic  ministry  will,  under  God,  make  a  faithful,  fear- 
less, energetic  Church. 

Wide  is  the  field,  then,  which  your  callings  upon  God 
should  embrace, — w^ide  as  the  Church  of  God  in  every  land, 
of  every  name.  Wherever  there  is  one  who  bears  the 
impress  of  the  cross,  and  fights  under  its  wide-floating 
banner,  whether  he  be  in  your  own  or  another  division  of 
the  hosts ;  whether  doing  battle  amidst  a  countless  throng, 
or  single-handed  and  alone ;  whether  in  your  immediate 
neighbourhood  or  far  oflT  in  pagan  lands, — he  is  enlisted  in 
the  same  great  cause  with  yourself;  and  has  a  right  to 
share  in  your  petitions  for  helping  grace  at  the  common 
mercy-seat.     You  must  pray  for  "  all  saints." 


THE     SPIRIT    FOR    THE    WARFARE.  315 


Reader,  you  have  now  seen  something  of  what  the 
apostle  means  when  he  tells  you,  after  giving  you  the 
armour,  that  you  must  pray  "  always  with  all  prayer  and 
supplication  in  the  Spirit,  watching  thereunto  with  all 
perseverance  and  supplication  for  all  saints ;"  and  if  you 
have  learned  thus  to  pray,  and  are  exercising  yourself 
"without  ceasing"  in  this  means  of  communication  with 
your  glorious  Head,  you  will  not  have  buckled  on  the 
armour,  nor  met  the  enemy  in  vain ;  you  will  have  learned 
how  to  use  your  weapons  to  foil  the  foe,  and  to  push  forward 
the  conquests  of  salvation, — you  will  have  imbibed  the 
spirit  for  the  warfare. 

"  O  watch,  and  fight,  and  pray, 
The  battle  ne'er  give  o'er; 
Renew  it  boldly  every  day, 
And  help  divine  implore. 

"  Ne'er  think  the  victory  won. 
Nor  once  at  ease  sit  down ; 
Thy  arduous  work  will  not  be  done 
Till  thou  hast  got  the  crown." 


316  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE    VICTORY. 

'•  The  armour  of  God." 

"Be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might." 

"  And  having  done  all,  to  stand." 

Full  many  a  soldier  who  has  marched  to  the  field  of 
hattle  with  footsteps  firm,  cheek  unblanched,  and  courage 
dauntless,  has  from  that  field  returned  no  more.  He  has 
been  baptized  in  his  own  blood,  slain  by  the  enemy,  or 
else  been  borne  away  to  long  and  hopeless  captivity.  Thus  is 
it  not  with  true  soldiers  in  the  army  of  the  Lord.  Maimed 
indeed  they  may  be ;  partially  driven  back  they  may  be ;  even 
carried  for  a  season  into  captivity  they  may  be  ;  but  utterly 
conquered  or  taken  into  hopeless  bondage  they  shall  never  be. 
"  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never  perish, 
neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand,"  says  the 
glorious  Leader  of  the  hosts.  Few  and  feeble  may  these  hosts 


THE     VICTORY.  317 


sometimes  seem  to  be ;  down  into  the  wilderness  they  may  be 
driven ;  but  up  from  the  wilderness  they  shall  come  triumph- 
ant, led  by  Him  who  holds  the  stars  in  his  right-hand,  and 
whose  countenance  is  as  the  sun  shining  in  his  strength  ;  for 
it  is  the  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  them  the  kingdom. 

No  wonder  is  it  that  the  soldier  of  the  cross  comes 
through  his  battles  a  victor,  when  you  remember  whence 
his  armour  is  derived,  and  in  whom  his  strength  lies. 
"  The  armour  of  God"  is  the  appellation  of  the  apostle ; 
and  he  who  wears  the  panoply  is  to  "  be  strong  in  the 
Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might."  Sincerity,  righteous- 
ness, faith,  readiness  to  every  good  word  and  work,  the 
good  hope,  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, — these  are  surely 
the  work  of  no  human  artificer.  From  the  hand  of  Him 
alone  who  fashioned  the  soul  itself  could  such  panoply  as 
this  have  come.  Would  any  mortal  mind  ever  have  con- 
ceived the  scheme  of  a  conflict  of  a  weak  worm  with  prin- 
cipalities and  powers  and  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places ;  and  the  conquest  of  the  worm  over  these  princi- 
palities and  powers,  and  over  flesh  and  blood  also  ?  If  any 
mortal  had  conceived  this  glorious  idea  and  achievement, 
could  he  have  devised  or  executed  such  a  panoply  as  this  ? 

No,  soldier  of  the   cross ;   none   other  than  He  in  the 

immeasurable  depths  of  whose  mind  lie  wisdom,  power,  and 

27* 


318     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS 


goodness  infinite,  could  have  conceived  the  idea  of  this 
seemingly  unequal  contest,  this  triumph  against  all  out- 
ward odds,  and  for  it  framed  an  instrumentality  so  perfect. 

The  very  fact  that  God  made  the  panoply,  is  itself,  to 
him  who  wears  it,  a  tower  of  strength.  What  this  great 
artificer  makes,  he  makes  well.  Why  should  we  faint  or 
fear;  why  should  we  for  a  moment  waver,  when  we  know 
that  our  armour  is  divine  ?  The  fact,  too,  that  God  has 
given  it  to  us,  is  an  earnest  of  victory.  The  panoply  is 
for  none  but  those  whom  he  has  called  to  be  faithful 
soldiers.  If  he  has  given  it  to  you,  is  there  not  reason  in 
this  very  fact  why,  amidst  all  outward  disadvantages,  you 
should  be  firm  and  unwavering?  Why  should  I  feel 
dismayed  by  temptation,  danger,  affliction,  the  wrath  of 
man,  death  itself,  if  I  am  arrayed  in  a  suit  of  mail  wrought 
by  the  fingers  of  the  omnipotent  Jehovah ?  "I  wear  the 
armour  of  God,"  may  the  Christian  soldier  say,  "and, 
wearing  it,  may  go  fearlessly  into  the  lions'  den,  or  the 
seven  times  heated  fiery  furnace." 

To  my  mind  there  is  no  greater  tower  of  strength  to  the 
believer  than  is  found  in  this  one  truth,  "The  salvation 
of  the  righteous  is  of  the  Lord :"  inclusive,  of  course,  of 
the  great  method  by  which  it  is  effected,  through  the  work 
and  righteousness  of  his  beloved  Son  our  Saviour.     If  our 


THE     VICTORY.  319 


safety  in  time  of  temptation  and  danger,  our  success  in  any 
good  word  and  work,  and  especially  our  complete  and 
final  triumph  over  all  enemies,  rested  in  any  measure  on 
our  own  unaided  strength,  for  one  I  should  wish  to  abandon 
the  hopeless  contest,  cast  aside  all  armour,  and  cry  ever- 
more, "  All  these  things  are  against  me."  Were  salvation 
of  myself,  then,  falling  under  the  power  of  the  tempter,  and 
struggling  amidst  darkness  and  danger,  how  could  I  but 
become  a  prey  to  hopeless  despair  ?  Imperfections,  un- 
faithfulness, sins, — all  these  have  borne  too  large  a  part  in 
the  believer's  personal  experience  for  him  to  lean  upon  such 
a  broken  reed  as  self. 

But  when  you  take  hold  upon  the  fact  that  your 
salvation  is  of  God,  that  he  devised  it  all,  providing  alike 
the  means  and  the  end,  and  including  it  in  the  everlasting 
covenant  made  with  his  Son,  how  firm  the  ground  on 
which  you  stand !  What  though,  then,  temptations, 
dangers,  the  wrath  of  man,  or  death  itself  shall  come, — are 
these  not  a  part  of  the  reckonings  in  the  covenant  of  Him 
who  designs  to  save  you  ?  What  though  in  yourself  you 
are  blind  and  weak  and  erring?  Has  not  wisdom  and 
strength  and  grace  been  provided  especially  because  of  such 
wants  as  these  ?  What  though  flesh  and  blood,  principali- 
ties and  powers  are  arrayed  against  you  ?     Were  not  all 


320  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


these  taken  into  the  account  when  you  were  called  from 
darkness  into  light,  and  their  destruction  provided  for  ? 

On  this  great  rock  did  Paul  stand  when  he  spoke  the 
suhlime  words,  "  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
Christ  ?  Shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or 
famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword  ?  As  it  is  writ- 
ten, For  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long  ;  we  are 
accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter.  Nay,  in  all  these 
things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that  loved 
us.  For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things,  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  Lofty  language,  indeed, 
is  this.  Breathing  this  spirit,  where  might  we  not  go  ?  what 
might  we  not  encounter  ?  Clad  with  the  "  armour  of  God," 
and  "strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might," 
why  should  we  not  be  able  to  stand  in  every  evil  day,  and 
having  done  all,  stand  ? 

Hence  is  it  true  that  he  who  wears  the  spiritual  panoply 
goes  forth  safely  and  successfully.  He  has  read  that  pro- 
mise made  to  all  thus  equipped :  "  When  thou  goest,  thy 
steps  shall  not  be  straitened ;  and  when  thou  runnest,  thou 
shalt  not  stumble."     Or  if,  indeed,  this  blessed  assurance 


THE    VICTORY.  321 


shall  not  be  literally  and  constantly  fulfilled  to  him,  and  if, 
amidst  rough  and  slippery  places,  his  feet  are  sometimes  so 
entrapped  that  he  loses  his  upright  position,  and  seems  al- 
most hopelessly  overthrown,  yet  he  takes  hold  upon  that 
other  promise,  which  declares  that "  The  steps  of  a  good  man 
are  ordered  by  the  Lord ;"  and  that  "the  Lord  delighteth  in 
his  way  ;  so  that,  though  he  fall,  he  shall  not  be  utterly  cast 
down,  because  the  Lord  upholdeth  him  with  his  hand." 

It  is  a  circumstance  worthy  of  remark,  that  no  soldier 
"who  has  been  clad  with  this  complete  armour  has  ever  been 
known  to  fall  a  hopeless  and  final  victim  to  his  enemies. 
He  may  have  been  beset  with  temptations  sharp  and  strong ; 
he  may  have  stumbled  "  on  the  dark  mountains,"  where 
his  destruction  seemed  inevitable ;  and  may,  at  times,  have 
appeared  to  have  gone  utterly  out  of  the  way,  and  aban- 
doned his  march  and  his  warfare ;  but  if  he  has  the  genuine 
armour  on,  most  certainly  does  he  return  to  his  fidelity  again. 

Those  there  have  been,  indeed,  who,  to  all  human 
appearance,  had  put  on  the  panoply,  and  who,  in  the  evil  day, 
have  not  been  able  to  stand.  There  ever  have  been,  and 
perhaps  ever  will  be,  some  who  mistake  a  spurious  armour 
for  that  of  the  gospel,  and  who,  ere  long,  find  that  their 
panoply  will  not  bear  the  test,  and  whose  feet  slide  in  due 
time.     They  are  easily  overcome  and  prostrated  ;   and  in 


322     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


this  helpless  condition  are  taken  captive  by  the  enemy  ;  and 
are  afterwards  found  fighting,  perhaps,  far  more  valiantly 
in  his  ranks  than  when  mustered  under  the  banner  of  sal- 
vation. 

Such  were  there  in  the  days  of  Christ.  Attracted  by  his 
temporary  popularity,  and  knowing  nothing  of  the  conflict 
to  which  his  servants  were  called,  they  no  sooner  began  to 
discover  the  true  nature  of  his  service,  than  "  From  that 
time  many  of  them  went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with 
him."  Of  all  such,  however,  it  might  have  been  said, 
"  They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  of  us ;  for  if 
they  had  been  of  us,  they  would  no  doubt  have  continued 
with  us ;  but  they  went  out,  that  they  might  be  made 
manifest,  that  they  were  not  all  of  us." 

But  where  the  feet  are  shod  with  the  sandals  which  come 
from  the  armory  of  God,  those  who  fall  shall  rise  again  and 
renew  the  warfare. 

Thus  we  see  David,  the  man  after  God's  own  heart,  in 
the  evil  day  of  temptation  falling  from  his  high  estate 
into  loathsomeness  and  guilt.  But  his  fall  was  only  for  a 
season ;  for  the  Captain  of  Salvation  knew  him  as  his  ser- 
vant, and  came  to  the  rescue,  and  raised  him  from  his  pros- 
trate condition  ;  and  with  his  iron-shod  sandals  he  trod  anew 
and  with  greater  agility  and  determination  the  spiritual  bat- 


THE    VICTORY.  323 


tie-field.  Thus  also  Peter,  who  had  averred  with  a  con- 
fidence which  knew  no  doubting,  that  though  all  men  should 
forsake  the  Master,  yet  would  not  he, — this  same  Peter 
we  see  cast  down  in  the  mire  of  sin,  and  under  the  power 
of  the  evil  one.  But  how  soon  again  he  rises  from  his  fall, 
and  stands  erect  and  victorious  over  his  foes ;  and  with  his 
armour  girded  afresh,  and  still  more  firm  because  of  this 
fall,  stands  foremost  in  every  enterprise,  shunning  no  hard- 
ship nor  danger,  and  counting  not  even  his  life  dear  unto 
him.  Do  we  not  here  see  that  though  the  good  man  "  fall, 
he  shall  not  be  utterly  cast  down  ;"  and  that  "  the  righteous 
shall  hold  on  his  way  ?"  "  Having  done  all" — having  put 
on  the  whole  armour,  and  faithfully  and  perseveringly  used 
all  means  of  grace,  "he  stands"  a  victor. 


324  THE    SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    VICTORY. 

"  The  armour  of  God." 

"Be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might." 

"  And  having  done  all,  to  stand." 

Let  us  now  follow  the  soldier  of  the  cross  through  his 
conflicts  and  his  victories,  and  see  how,  with  his  armour 
on,  he  stands  "  in  the  evil  day." 

His  first  great  victory  is  won  at  the  putting  on  of  the 
panoply.  All  recruits  for  the  armies  of  the  Lord  are  won 
from  the  powers  of  darkness.  All  of  them  were  once 
leagued  with  the  enemy,  faithfully  doing  his  bidding,  and 
making  war  against  the  powers  of  light.  One  such  is  at 
last  arrested  by  the  Spirit  from  on  high,  who  is  stronger 
than  the  strong  man  armed.  He  hears  the  summons,  is 
shown  the  guiltiness  and  danger  of  the  position  he  now 


THE    VICTOET.  325 


occupies ;  resolves  to  escape,  but  finds  himself  enthralled. 
Hard  are  his  struggles  against  flesh,  sin,  and  Satan ;  and 
apparently  in  vain.  Tearfulness  and  trembling  seize  upon 
him ;  tears  stream  from  his  eyes ;  his  bosom  labours  in 
deep  agony ;  and  he  cries  out,  "  Men  and  brethren,  what 
shall  I  do  ?"  What  shall  he  do  ?  Just  then  he  hears  those 
welcome  words,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  "  The  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  "  Look  unto  me  and 
be  ye  saved."  And  look  he  does;  and,  looking,  lives.  To 
him  that  hung  upon  the  cross  he  flies ;  and  though  Satan 
struggles  hard  to  keep  him,  and  doubts  and  fears  beset  the 
way,  he  finds  the  helper,  and  puts  on  the  armour,  drives 
back  the  enemy,  and  sings  the  song  of  victory.  Just  from 
the  borders  of  despair,  now  on  the  verge  of  heaven,  he 
"  stands"  a  conqueror. 

This,  however,  is  but  his  first  victory,  for  his  old  foes 
will  still  beset  his  way,  striving  ever  to  turn  back  his  foot- 
steps and  impede  his  heavenward  march ;  and  amidst  such 
trials  he  must  remain  steadfast.  Not  a  few,  indeed,  prove 
all  along  more  or  less  unstable,  and  do  not  excel.  Their 
armour  becomes  rusted  by  contact  with  the  world  ;  the 
spirit  of  the  warfare  within  them  is  feeble,  and  their  course 

is  far  less  successful  than  it  should  be.     Steadfastness  in 

28 


326  THE     80LDIER    OF    THE    CROSS. 


religion  is  indispensable  to  efficiency.  The  good  soldier 
will  stand  in  every  evil  day.     Let  us  follow  such  an  one 

Into  the  evil  day  of  temptation.  Scarcely  has  his  armour 
been  girded  on,  when  doubts  and  spiritual  darkness  assail 
him.  The  clear  views  of  his  Prince  and  Saviour  are  all 
gone ;  the  songs  of  victory  are  silenced ;  his  consciousness 
of  safety  has  given  place  to  fears  and  despondency.  He 
knows  not  what  manner  of  person  he  is.  Once  he  had 
thought  his  mountain  strong,  firmly  fixed,  no  more  to  move. 
Now  he  doubts  whether  all  his  joys  and  hopes  had  not 
been  an  empty  dream.  He  has  no  pleasure  in  sitting  be- 
neath the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary ;  wandering  thoughts 
distress  him  when  he  reads  the  sacred  word  ;  in  prayer  his 
spirit  seems  dead,  cold,  passionless.  Former  sins  assert 
their  claims ;  his  imagination  swarms  with  polluted  things, 
and  sin  is  mixed  with  all  he  does.  He  even  hesitates 
whether  he  shall  not  renounce  the  cause  he  has  so  zeal- 
ously espoused,  and  turn  back  again  to  his  wallowing  in 
the  mire. 

Long  is  the  night  and  dreary ;  hard  is  the  struggle,  and 
to  him  apparently  almost  hopeless.  But  does  he  abandon 
the  good  cause  and  turn  back  to  renew  his  friendship  with 
his  former  allies?  No;  this  he  has  no  heart  to  do. 
Comfortless  though  the  onward  march  must  be,  he  can  no 


THE     VICTORY.  327 


more  look  back.  He  will  go  forward,  if  he  perish ;  and  if 
he  perish,  will  perish  at  the  cross,  and  only  there.  Ah! 
tempted  one,  this  is  but  one  of  the  conflicts  common  to  the 
soldiers  of  Christ ;  and  he  who  called  thee  first,  has  not 
forgotten  thee  now.  He  hears  thy  cries ;  he  pities  thy 
weakness ;  and  though  for  a  season  he  seems  to  have 
forsaken  thee,  yet  with  his  loving-kindness  will  he  draw 
thee.  "  Though  he  slay  me,"  cries  the  saint,  "  yet  will  I 
trust  in  him ;"  and  He  does  not  slay  him,  but  with  his 
outstretched  arm  lifts  him  from  the  miry  clay,  once  more 
sets  his  feet  upon  the  rock,  and  puts  the  new  song  again 
into  his  mouth.  Long  has  been  the  night  and  dreary  ;  but 
the  shadows  have  now  flown  away  ;  hard  has  been  the 
struggle,  but  the  adversary  has  been  driven  back ;  and 
through  all  the  conflict  the  believer  has  been  steadfast  to 
his  faith, — he  has  stood  in  the  evil  day. 

The  good  soldier  stands  also  in  the  day  of  spiritual 
declension,  false  doctrine,  and  opposition  to  evangelical 
piety.  What  matters  it  to  him, — clad  with  faith,  righteous- 
ness, truth,  and  ready  obedience,buoyed  up  with  the  good 
hope  and  armed  with  the  Spirit's  sword, — that  the  outward 
prospects  of  Zion  may  not  seem  propitious  ?  Does  the  fact 
that  coldness  pervades  the  hearts  of  most  of  God's  people, 
relax  his  individual  obligations  to  be  faithful  ?     Does  it  not 


328     THE  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS. 


rather  call  upon  him  the  more  imperatively  to  be  up  and 
doing,  because  there  are  so  many  spiritual  slumberers? 
Does  the  fact  that  Zion's  progress  is  slow,  and  that  iniquity 
abounds,  or  that  his  own  prayers  or  labours  seem  attended 
with  but  little  success,  so  dishearten  him  as  to  lead  him  to 
abandon  his  labours  of  love,  restrain  prayer,  and  doubt 
whether  the  kingdoms  of  this  w^orld  ever  shall  become  the 
kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ  ?  or,  rather,  believ- 
ing that  it  is  his  duty  faithfully  to  use  the  means,  leaving 
the  result  with  God,  in  whose  hands  the  Church  is  safe,  and 
who  can  and  will  accomplish  his  purposes,  so  that  even  the 
gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  to  destroy  or  permanently 
weaken  the  firm  and  glorious  fabric  of  his  Church,  does  he 
not  still  continue  to  pray,  labour  and  trust — thus  fulfilling 
the  divine  declaration,  even  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest 
outward  discouragements,  that  "  the  righteous  shall  hold 
on  his  way?" 

Or  if  opposition,  and  even  dreadful  persecutions  should 
arise,  shall  these  fill  him  with  dismay  and  drive  him  like  a 
coward  from  the  field  ?  Does  he  not  rather  "  consider  him 
who  endured  such  contradiction  of  sinners,"  and  con- 
sider also  what  far  better  saints  than  himself  have  been 
called  to  suffer  for  righteousness'  sake,  and  determine  "  not 
to  fear  them  that  can  kill  the  body,  but  rather  to  fear  Hira 


THE    VICTORY.  329 


that,  having  killed  the  body,  can  cast  both  soul  and  body 
into  hell," — counting  it  all  honour  that  he  may  even  be 
thought  worthy  to  suffer  for  the  name  of  Jesus  ?  Truly, 
dear  reader,  such  is  the  virtue  of  this  heavenly  armour, 
that  through  all  the  long  winter  of  spiritual  declension  in 
Zion,  amidst  all  apparent  triumphs  of  the  enemy,  under  all 
the  obloquy  and  shame  which  the  soldier  may  meet  in  the 
most  fiery  storms  of  battle,  the  faithful  warrior  is  yet  strong 
in  the  Lord  ;  and  having  fearlessly  and  faithfully  striven  to 
do  all,  he  stands  in  this  evil  day  a  victor  still. 

Or  in  the  evil  day  of  false  doctrine,  when  men  are  forsak- 
ing the  simple  gospel  truth  for  a  spurious  philosophy  and 
a  vain  and  empty  ceremonial, — a  religion  which  takes  hold 
of  the  senses  and  not  of  the  heart, — with  his  goodly  armour 
on  is  he  not  still  able  to  cling  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  ? 
Does  he  not  bear  in  his  inward  experience  a  force  of  logic 
as  to  the  efficacy  and  godlike  power  of  the  gospel  on  the 
soul,  which  more  than  refutes  the  sophistry  of  false  phi- 
losophy and  formalism,  and  puts  to  naught  the  wisdom  of 
men,  and  enables  him  as  a  victor  still  to  stand? 

Or  when  the  dark  day  of  sorrow  and  bereavement  comes, 
and  such  shafts  penetrate  his  soul,  as  cause  a  keenness  of 
anguish  which  for  the  present  no  earthly  balm  can  heal, 
does   he  faint,   or  stand   in   wicked   rebellion?     His  poor 


330  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS. 


smitten,  bleeding  heart  may  indeed  tempt  him  to  sit  in 
sullen  despair,  refusing  longer  to  serve  a  Master  who  deals 
thus  hardly  with  him,  or  to  ask,  in  proud  rebellion,  Why 
hast  thou  thus  afflicted  me  ? — but  such  are  only  a  part  of 
his  conflicts  :  against  such  wickedness  he  wrestles  hard  ;  and 
the  shield  of  faith  is  buckled  closer,  and  the  helmet  of  hope 
bound  on  more  firmly,  and  the  sword  of  the  word  used 
more  vigorously,  until  he  comes  out  of  the  fires  purified 
rather  than  destroyed. 

The  object  of  his  affliction  was  perhaps  a  dearly  loved 
child,  about  whom  his  tenderest  affections  had  been  twined, 
now  laid  on  the  bed  of  sickness.  Through  weary  days 
and  sleepless  nights  he  has  watched  about  that  couch, 
praying  God,  if  it  might  be  his  good  pleasure,  to  spare  the 
much-prized  treasure  of  his  heart.  But  it  was  not  God's 
good  pleasure  to  grant  that  prayer.  The  stroke  at  last 
fell  with  mountain  weight, — a  weight  which  seemed  as  if  it 
might  have  crushed,  but  only  stunned  him.  He  stood  like  a 
thing  of  stone ;  his  eyes  were  tearless ;  his  heart  like  ada- 
mant ;  fierce  defiance  and  deep  thunders  of  rebellion  struggled 
away  down  in  his  inmost  bosom.  The  evil  one  seemed 
almost  to  have  conquered.  But  at  last  his  better  nature 
began  to  revive,  and  faith  and  hope  prevailed.  He  thought 
of  the  mysteriousness  by  which  God  works  out  his  purposes 


THE    VICTORY.  331 


of  love  ;  of  the  strange  methods  by  which  he  turns  streams 
of  sorrow  to  fountains  of  joy  ;  of  the  good  he  had  received 
from  the  hands  of  Him  of  whom  he  is  now  complaining  that 
he  has  received  one  instalment  of  seeming  evil.  The 
sealed  fountains  are  at  last  broken  up ;  his  tears  fall  like 
rain ;  his  stony  heart  melts  down  before  the  promises  and 
the  cross ;  and  in  gentleness  he  sinks  into  the  sweet 
repose  of  quiet,  unmurmuring  resignation,  as  from  his  lips  fall 
the  blessed  words,  "  It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  as  to  him 
seemeth  best."  "  I  know  that  thy  judgments  are  right, 
and  that  in  faithfulness  thou  hast  afflicted  me."  With  the 
shield  of  faith  and  the  sword  of  the  word,  he  has  warded 
6fF  the  fiery  darts  of  the  devil,  and  through  all  this  evil 
day  has  stood  a  conqueror. 

And  in  the  evil  day  of  death,  also,  the  Christian  soldier 
is  a  conqueror.  Yes !  "it  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once 
to  die."  You  must  at  last  descend  into  the  dark  valley, 
and  meet  the  gloomy  monster,  death.  He  may  come  upon 
you,  too,  with  a  desperation  which  will  seem  to  mark  a 
determination  to  make  you  his  victim ;  and  the  conflict 
may  be  hard  and  long  ;  but,  armed  with  the  gospel  panoply, 
you  shall  win  the  day.  Your  death-bed  is  your  last  battle- 
field,— the  field,  too,  where  you  shall  so  gain  the  victory 
that  death  shall  seem  death  no  more.     Such  shall  be  the 


332  THE     SOLDIER    OF     THE     CROSS, 


triumphs  of  faith  and  hope,  and  the  calmness  of  your  spirit ; 
such  shall  be  the  efficacy  of  the  breastplate  and  the  sword 
in  dispelling  all  doubts  and  fears,  that  you  shall  be  able  to 
gird  on  your  sandals  and  walk  down  into  the  portals  of 
death,  as  if  entering  the  house  of  a  friend.  Weeping 
watchers  around  your  couch  may  hear  you  say,  in  peaceful 
surprise.  Can  this  be  death?  "O  death!  where  is  thy  sting? 
O  grave  !  where  is  thy  victory  ?  Thanks  be  to  God,  that 
giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Thus  does  the  Christian  soldier  pass  through  this  last  evil 
day ;  and,  strong  in  the  Lord  and  the  power  of  his  might,  in 
glorious  triumph  over  death  itself  "  he  stands"  a  conqueror. 
As  with  the  individual  soldier,  so  also  with  the  col- 
lective hosts  :  the  great  army  of  the  Church  militant  shall 
yet  come  off  conquerors  over  the  powers  of  darkness  here 
on  earth,  and  at  last  shout  the  victory  home  as  they  go  up 
to  their  everlasting  scenes  of  triumph.  Long  has  the 
Church  of  God  on  earth  been  a  feeble,  scattered  flock;  long 
have  they  prayed,  wept,  and  toiled  for  the  pulling  down  of 
Satan's  strongholds,  and  the  universal  reign  of  the  Prince 
of  Peace ;  long  have  the  watchmen  on  the  wide-stretched 
walls  been  crying  one  to  another,  Watchman,  what  of  the 
night  ?  and  long  has  the  morning  seemed  in  coming.  But 
the  morning  shall  come ;  Satan's  power  shall  be  destroyed ; 


THE    VICTORY.  333 


Jesus  Christ  shall  "  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  shall  be 
satisfied  ;"  "  the  heathen  shall  be  given  to  him  for  his  inhe- 
ritance, and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  posses- 
sion." The  hosts  of  the  Church  militant  shall  in  future 
time  be  greatly  multiplied ;  their  panoplied  ranks  shall  stand 
on  every  shore,  and  include  every  tribe  and  nation,  until  at 
length  there  shall  be  one  solid  column  of  soldiery  throwing 
its  bright  circle  round  the  globe.  Then  shall  be  heard  shouted 
from  their  ranks,  "  Hallelujah  I  The  kingdoms  of  this  world 
have  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ." 

And  when  this  scene  of  human  things  is  ended ;  when 
the  great  purposes  for  which  this  portion  of  creation  was 
called  into  being  are  all  fulfilled  ;  when  this  planet  shall 
be  swept  of  its  tenantry  and  wrapt  in  a  mantle  of  fire,  and 
the  "works  of  the  devil"  all  destroyed ;  how  glorious  will 
be  the  spectacle  to  him  w^ho  is  privileged  to  look  within 
the  portals  of  the  kingdom  above! 

In  Rome,  the  ancient  mistress  of  the  world,  how  glorious 
was  that  day  when,  through  her  arched  gates,  came  back 
from  conquest  her  victorious  armies,  with  banners  flying, 
trumpets  sounding,  shouts  of  triumph  swelling  high,  and 
the  long  columns  pouring  their  panoplied  legions,  loaded 
with  spoils,  through  her  streets  ! — this  I  say  was  a  glorious 
day  for  "the  mistress  of  the  world."     But  who  shall  tell 


334  THE    SOLDIER    OP    THE    CROSS. 


the  glory  of  that  day  when  the  Captain  of  Salvation  shall 
bring  home  his  entire  blood-washed  army  from  its  last 
battles ;  when  there  shall  come  into  the  portals  of  the 
upper  skies  the  serried  hosts  of  Christian  soldiery,  with 
helmets  gleaming ;  palms  waving  high ;  songs  of  immortal 
victory  swelling  up ;  the  crimson  banner  of  the  cross  float- 
ing far  and  wide  above  them,  and  the  almost  endless 
columns  pouring  into  the  eternal  city  I  Will  not  this  be  a 
glorious  day  in  the  Zion  of  our  God  ?  Shall  not  all 
heaven  be  vocal  with  the  loudest,  richest  anthem,  as  the 
Captain  of  Salvation  draws  up  in  magnificent  array  his 
splendid  hosts,  "  without  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such 
thing,"  and,  presenting  them  before  his  Father,  says,  "Here, 
Lord,  am  I,  and  those  whom  thou  hast  given  me  !"  These 
are  at  once  my  soldiers  and  my  trophies ! 

The  panoply  will  then  have  served  its  purpose ;  Sin, 
Satan,  and  every  other  foe  will  have  been  trodden  under 
foot  forever ;  and  upon  the  high  hills  of  heaven,  beside  its 
crystal  streams  of  life,  and  under  its  nightless,  stormless 
skies,  the  victorious  soldiery  will  "  learn  war  no  more," 
but  rest  in  undisturbed,  eternal  tranquility. 

"  I  ask  them,  whence  their  victory  came ; 
They,  with  united  breath, 
Ascribe  their  conquest  to  the  Lamb, 
Their  triumph  to  his  death." 


THE    CALL    TO    ARMS.  335 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE    CALL   TO   ARMS. 

"  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God." 

Reader  !  would  you  share  this  glorious  victory  of  the 
saints  ?  then  with  the  saints  must  you  "  fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith,"  and  obey  the  apostle's  injunction  to  "  put 
on  the  w^hole  armour  of  God." 

Have  you  already  put  the  armour  on?  I  ask  not 
w^hether  your  name  is  found  on  the  registers  of  the  visible 
army,  or  whether  you  wear  the  outward  garb  of  a  Christian 
soldier ; — many  there  have  been,  in  almost  every  army, 
whose  names  were  on  the  rolls,  and  who  were  marshalled 
in  the  ranks,  who  were  after  all  but  traitors, — enemies  in 
disguise.  So  is  it  in  the  visible  Church  of  God.  "Not 
every  one,"  says  Christ,  "  who  saith  unto  me.  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God ;  but  he  that  doeth 


336  THE     SOLDIEK    OF     THE     CROSS, 


the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  "  Many  will 
say  unto  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have  we  not  prophe- 
sied in  thy  name  ?  and  in  thy  name  cast  out  devils  ?  and  in 
thy  name  done  many  wonderful  works  ?"  to  whom  he 
shall  say,  "  I  never  knew  you.  Depart  from  me,  ye  workers 
of  iniquity."  Have  you  put  on  the  armour?  Upon 
careful,  honest,  prayerful  scrutiny,  is  there  good  reason 
to  believe  that  you  have  a  sincere,  truthful  desire  from  a 
regenerate  heart  to  do  God's  holy  will ;  an  humble,  simple 
faith  in  Christ ;  a  holiness  of  heart  and  righteousness  of 
life ;  a  readiness  to  practise  and  propagate  by  every  good 
word  and  work  the  gospel  of  peace ;  a  good  hope  through 
grace  of  everlasting  life ;  and  a  constant  and  faithful  use 
of  the  word  of  God  for  your  own  sanctification,  for  the 
overthrow  of  error  and  the  diffusion  of  truth  ?  and  are  you 
humbly  striving  to  use  this  armour,  calling  all  the  while 
for  help  on  God  your  Saviour,  and  thus  standing  unmova- 
ble  in  every  evil  day?  If  so,  you  are  indeed  a  good 
soldier,  and  need  not  be  ashamed  or  afraid.  Your  conflicts 
may  be  hard,  and  the  evil  day  may  seem  long,  but  your 
weakness  shall  be  made  strength.  Deliverance  will  in  due 
season  come,  and  you  shall  at  last  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 
Keep  your  armour  bright ;  put  not  on  a  part  of  it,  but  "  the 
whole,"  and  keep  up  a  constant  and  close  communication 


THE     CALL     TO    ARMS.  337 


between  yourself  and  the   Captain  of  your  salvation,  by 
"always  calling  upon  God." 

"  Prayer  makes  the  Christian's  armour  bright." 

If,  however,  reader,  on  faithful  scrutiny  you  have  reason 
to  believe  the  armour  of  God  is  not  yours,  then  be  per- 
suaded at  once  to  put  it  on.  This  can  be  done  by  giving 
up  the  world ;  confessing  and  turning  from  your  sins ; 
ceasing  to  do  evil  and  learning  to  do  well ;  by  coming,  as 
a  poor  helpless  captive,  to  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
there  laying  down  your  arms  of  rebellion,  and  casting 
yourself  unreservedly  on  him  for  mercy.  Ready  is  this 
gracious  Prince  and  Saviour  to  pardon  and  receive  the 
bitterest  foe  who  will  but  return  and  sorrowing  seek  his 
face.  Able  and  willing  is  he,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  subdue 
your  rebellion,  impart  to  you  principles  of  new  obedience, 
and  put  upon  your  naked  soul  "  the  whole  panoply  of  God." 
"  Let  him  that  heareth  say  come  ;  and  whosoever  will,  let 
hini  come,"  are  his  kind  w^ords  of  invitation ;  and  "him  that 
Cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out,"  is  the  gracious 
assurance  which  he  gives  you.  Will  you  not  seek  his 
grace  to  help  you  come  at  once  ?  Wait  not  longer  for  "  a 
more  convenient  season."    "  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted 

time."     Lay  down  the  arms  of  your  rebellion,  and  with 

29 


338  THE     SOLDIER    OF    THE     CROSS 


Thomas  say,  "My  Lord  and  my  God !"  Like  Moses,  choose 
rather  to  "  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to 
enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season." 

The  pleasures  of  Satan's  kingdom  are  indeed  but  "  for  a 
season."  Soon  they  will  all  pass  away;  soon  for  you  all 
earthly  things  will  pass  away ;  and  the  day  of  life,  which, 
if  you  have  continued  still  "  a  servant  of  sin"  and  Satan, 
will  have  proved  emphatically  an  evil  day,  will  also  soon 
be  gone,  and  be  succeeded  by  the  inevitable  hour  of  death, 
which  w^ill  then  be  to  you  an  "evil  day"  indeed.  O 
reader !  if,  when  that  dreadful  conflict  with  the  last  monster 
comes,  you  have  not  the  armour  on,  what  will  you  do, — 
whither  will  you  flee  ?  In  that  sad  struggle  death  will 
surely  be  the  victor.  However  you  may  "  start  and  shrink 
and  fear  to  launch  away,"  you  must  go ;  for  he  will  claim 
you  as  his  own  with  a  power  you  will  be  utterly  unable  to 
resist.  Death,  too,  having  made  you  his  captive,  will  hand 
you  over  to  his  ally.  Hell ;  and  in  bondage  to  Satan,  amidst 
lost  spirits  and  devils  damned,  fallen  in  a  hopeless  over- 
throw, you  will  be  shut  up  under  the  full  power  of  sin  and 
Satan  in  the  dark  house  of  eternal  captivity. 

How  much  better  that  you  should  get  the  victory  over 
the  great  adversary,  than  that  he  should  get  this  eternal 
victory  over  you!     No  alternative  is  left  you.     You  must 


THE    GALL    TO     ARMS.  339 


either  enlist  under  the  banner  of  the  cross,  fight  the  good 
fight,  and  through  grace  come  off  conqueror  over  sin  and 
Satan,  or  you  must  still  remain  in  bondage  to  the  devil, 
and  at  last  be  driven  away  in  your  wickedness. 

Take  warning,  then,  in  time,  and  seek  the  better  part. 
"  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able 
to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil.  For  we  wrestle 
not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities, 
against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this 
world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places.  Where- 
fore take  unto  you  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may 
be  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and  having  done  all, 
to  stand." 


THE    END. 


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(Mrs.)  Life  of  Miiry  Lundie  Duncan.     ISmo.           .         ^         .  50 

Life  of  George  A.  Lundie.  18mo.     .                   ...  60 

Memoirof  George  B- Phillips.    ISmo.             .         •        •        •  25 

Children  of  the  Manse.                ......  1  00 

— i)o.         do.                   .         •         .        .        ■             gilt  1  25 


Robert  Carter  Sf  Brothers. 

*Duncan's  (Mary   Lundie)  Rhymes  for  My  Children.   16nK>.  illus 
Crskine's  Gospel  Sonnets.     New  and  beautiful  edition. 

Do.  do.     ISmo-  close  type. 

English    Pulpit,  a  collection  of  Sermons  by  the  most  emi 
nent  Divines  of  England.     8vo.  ..... 

F  a  r  r' s  History  of  the  Egyptians.    I'imo.  •         .         .        . 

• History  of  the  Persians.     1  iw.o.     .         •         ■         .         . 

History  of  the  Assyrians,  Chaldeans,  Medes,  Lydians,  Ac. 

.  History  of  the  JIacedonians,  the  Selucida;  in  Syria,  <fec. 

Ferguson's  Roman  Uepublic.     bvo.  .... 

F  i  s  k  '  s  Memorial  of  tlie  Holy  Land-    With  steel  plates. 
Fleury's  Life  of  David       l.'mo  •         •         •         •        . 

Foster's  Essays  on  Decision  of  CJiaracter,  t£;c.,  large  type- 

close  type.     ISmo.  •■_.... 

* Essay  on  the  Evils  of  Popular  Ignorance.    12mo. 

Ford's  Decapolis.    Ibmo.  ....... 

Free    Church    Pulpit;    consisting  of  Discourses  by  the 

most  eminent  Divines  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.     3   vols.    8vo 
Fr  y  ^Caroline)  1'he  Listener.     2  vols,  in  one. 

Christ  on  Law.    !2mo.       •  .         '         .         •         • 

Sabbath  Musings.     ISmo.       .         .  .         .         . 

The  Scripture  Reader's  Guide;     18mo. 

Geological    Cosmogony.     By  a  Layman.     ISmo 
God    in  the    Storm.     1  t>mo.  .... 

Graham's  Test  of  Truth.     ISmo.  .... 

G  r  e  e  n— The  Life  of  tlie  Rev.  Ashabel  Green,  D.  D.,  by  the  Rev. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Philadelphia.    8vo.     Portrait.         .... 
Griffith's    Live  while  you  Live.     ISmo 
Haldane's    E.vposition  of  Romans.    Svo. 
Hall's    (Bishop)  Select  Works.     16mo. 
Hamilton  (Rev.  James,  D.D.)  Life  in  Earnest. 

JNIount  of  Olives  .... 

. Harp  on  the  Willows 

'J'hankfulness  .  ■       .        . 

Life  of  Hall 

Happy  Home      Illustrated 

Do.  do. 

* Life  of  Lady  Colquhoun 

Do.  do.  .... 


ISmo. 


24mo. 
ISmo. 

u 

ICmo. 


gilt 
gilt 
gilt 


H  a  '^F  k  e  r  '  s  Poor  Man's  Morning  Portion. 
"  Eveninj;  Portion. 


12mo. 


1  00 
60 

1  .'■)U 
75 
75 
75 
'b 
1  50 
I  00 
60 
75 
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75 
25 

5  Oti 

1  00 
60 
40 
.30 
30 
25 
SO 

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.30 

2  50 
75 
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1  00 
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60 


Catalogue  of  Books  Published  by 


Hawker   s  Zion's  Pilgrim.     ISmo.  ;        .        .        .        , 

He  11  gsten  berg's  Egypt  and  the  Books  of  Moses.     12mo,    . 
Hervey's  Meditations.     ISmo.        ...... 

H  e  t  h  e  r  i  11  g  t  o  11 '  .s   History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland 

H  enry' s  (Matth.)  Method  for  Prayer  .... 

Communicant's  Companion.     18mo.  .... 

Daily  Communion  with  God.      " 

Pleasantness  of  a  Religious  Life.     24mo.  .         .   gilt 

• •  Choice  Works.     12mo.  ...  ... 

Henry,  Philip,  Life  of.     ISmo.  

Hill's  (George)  Lectures  on  Divinity.     Svo. 

(Rowland)  Life.   By  Sidney.     12mo.  .... 

History  of  the  Puritans  in  England,  and 
the  Pilgrim  Fat  hers,  by  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Stowell  and 
D.  Wilson,  F.S. A.,  with  two  steel  plates.     12mo. 

History   of  the  Reformation  in  Europe.  1  Smo 

Housmau's  Life  and  Remains.     12mo. 

Home's  introduction.     2  vols,  royal  Svo.  half  cloth 

Do.  do.  1  vol.  sheep  .... 

Do.  do.  2  vols,  clotli         ,        .         .         .         , 

Do.  do.  2  vols,  library  style 

Bishop,  Commentary  on  the  Book  of  Psalms 

Ho  Wells's   Life — Perfect  Peace.     ISnio. 
Howe's    Redeemer's  Tears  and  otlier  Essays.     ISmo. 
*Ho"ward  (Julm)  ur  the  F'rison  World  of  Europe.     12mo. 
*Ho  o  k  e  r  (Rev.  H.)   Tlie  Uses  of  Adversity.     ISmo. 

•» Piiilosopiiy  of  Unbelief 

H  u  s  s  (Jno  )  Life.     Translated  from  tlie  German 
Jacobus  on  Matthew.     With  a  Harmony.     Illustrated 
■  Questions  on  do.     ISmo.  ..... 

On  Mark,  Luke,  and  Jolin  (preparing) 

James'   Anxious  Inquirer.    ISmo.             .... 
. True  Christian.  "  

Widow  Directed  "  ..... 

* Young  Man  fiom  Home         .         .         .        .'       . 

* Cliriatiau  Professor.     Kew  edition  12mo. 

Jane  way's   Heaven  upon  Earth.     ISrao.  .         .        . 

■ Token  for  Children.    ISmo 

Jay's    Morning  Exercises.    12mo. 

Evening     "      "        .... 


30 

75 
40 
50 
40 
40 
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30 
60 
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73 


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00 

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50 

30 

50 

1 

00 

30 

75 

25 

75 

15 

30 

80 

30 

50 
30 
75 


Robert  Carter  c^*  Brothers, 


Jay 's  Christian  Conteiuplated.     ISmo.           ....  40 

Jubilee  Memorial                     "             SO 

J  e  nam's  Tribute  to  a  beloved  and  only  Daughter  30 

*J oh  u  so  n  '  s  Rasselas,  elegant  edition,  16mo.          ...  50 

Do.                          do.                              "...    gilt  75 

Key   to   the   Shorter    Catechism.     ISmo.           .  20 

Kennedy's    (Grace)  Profession  is  not  Principle.     18mo.          .  30 

Jessy  Allan,  the  Lame  Girl.     ISmo.                ....  25 

Anna  Ross.     l?mo.  illustrated  

*Kit  to  (John,  D.D.)  Daily  Bible  Illustrations.     4  vols.      .         .  4  00 

Vol  I.    Antidiluvi;ins  and  Pattiarchs             .         .         ,  1  00 

Vol.  II.  Moses  and  Judges                  .         .         .         .  1  00 

Vol.  III.  Samual  and  Uavid                  .        .        .        .  1  00 

Vol.  IV.  Solomon  and  the  Kings               .         •         .  1   00 

Krummacher's   Martyr  Lamb.     ISmo.         ....  40 

•  Elijah  the  Tishbite.     ISmo 40 

—  Last  Days  of  Elisha.     New  edition,  ISmo.              ...  50 

*L  e  y  b  u  r  u  '  s  Soldier  of  the  Cross,  or  Exposition  of  Ephesians 

vii.  lU-;9.  •         .         .         . 

Life   in  New  York.    ISmo. 40 

*Iiighted  Valley,   or  the  Memoir  of  Miss  Bolton,  with  an 

introductory  essay  by  the  Rev.  William  Jay.     16mo.             .         ,  75 

Do.                          do.                 gilt  1  00 

*Lovrrie's   (Rev.  Walter  M.)    Life,   late   Missionary  to  China. 

8vo.     With  portrait             1  50 

■ Letters  to  .Sabbatli  .'^'chool  Children                 ....  25 

* (Ti'ev.  John  C.)  I'wo  Years  in  Upper  India         ...  75 

Lockwood's    Memoir.      By  his  Fatiier.     18mo.      ...  40 

Luther's    Commentary  on  the  Galatians.    Svo.                .         .  1  50 

M  a  c  k  a  y — The  Wyckliftiies  ;  or,  England  in  the  15th  Century  75 

M  a  I  c  om  on  the  Atonement          .......  30 

Martin's  (Sarah)  Life.     ISmo.                30 

Martyn's  (IJenry)  Life.     12mo CO 

♦Marshall  on  Sanctification           ......  50 

Martyrs    and  Covanters   of  Scotland               .  40 

Mas^on  (Dr.  John)  Essays  on  llie  Church            ....  GO 

*M  n  1 1  h  e  -w  s  (Rev.  James,  D  D.)    The  Bible  and  Civil  Govern- 
ment.    l2mo. 1  00 

*M  c  C  osh  on  the  Divine  Government,  Pliysical  and  Moral     . 

McCriudel I — The  Cooveut    A  Narrative.    18mo.  50 


8 


Catalogue  of  Books  Published  by 


McClieyne's  (Eev.  Robert  Murray)  Works.     2  vols.   8vo. 

■ Life,  Lectures,  and  Letters.    Sepiirate. 

Sermons.    Separate.  ...... 


McCheyne's  Familiar  Letters  from  the  Holy  Land.     ISmo, 
McFarlaue — The  Mountains  of  the   Bible,   their  Scenes  and 
their  Lessons,  with  four  illustrations  on  steel.     r2mo. 

• Do  Do.  ...  gilt 

*M  c  G-  h  e  e   (Rev.  R.  J.)  Lectures  on  the  Ephesians.     Svo. 

McGiivray'.s   Peace  in  Believing 

M  c  L  e  o  d  '  s  Life  and  Power  of  True  Godliness 

*M  cLelland  (Prof.  Ak'.\  )  On  the  Canon  and  Intrepretation  of 

Scripture.     12mo 

Meikle's    Solitnde  Sweetened.     Vlmix 

Miller'-s  (Rev.  Dr.  Samuel)  Memoir  of  Kev.  Dr.  Nisbet 

■ (Rev.  John)   De.'^ign  of  the  Church.     I'Jmo. 

Michael  Kemp,  the  Fanner's  Lad.     1  :^mo. 

Mi  .s  s  i  on  .s  ,  the  Origin  and  History  of.     By  Choules  and  Smith, 

Witli  25  steel  plates.     4 to. 
M  of  fat  t's  Southern  Africa-     12mo. 

Do.  do. 

M  o  n  o  d  '  s  Lucilla  ;  or,  the  Reading  of  the  Bible. 
More  (Hannali) — The    Book  of  Private  Devotion 

elegant  edition,  18mo 
. Do.  do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 


IS  mo. 
Large  type, 

gilt 


do.       small  edition,  32mo 
do.  •'  gilt 


M  o  r  e  1 1 '  s  Historical  and  Critical  View  of  the  Speculative  Phi 

losophy  of  Europe  in  the  19th  Century  .... 

♦Murphey  (Uev.  James,  D.D.)    The  Bible  and  Geology  Con 

eistent 

My    School    Boy    Days.     18mo.  ... 

My  Youthful    Companions.     ISmo. 

The  above  two  bound  in  1  vol.  illustrated 
Ne'w  ton's  (Rev.  John)   Works.     ■/ vols.  8vo. 

Life.    Separate.     iSmo.  ...... 

* Memoir  of  M.  Magdalen  Jasper.     ISmo. 

*New  Cobwebs   to  Catch  Little  Flies.     lUus 

trated,  16mo.  square  

Noel's  Infant  Piety.     18mo.  

IsTorth  American    Indians.     Hlustrated.     18mo. 


3  00 

1  50 

2  00 
50 

75 

1  00 

2  00 
25 
60 

75 
60 
75 

60 

40 

3  50 

75 

1  00 

40 

50- 
75 
20 
SO 

3  00 

1  00 
30 
30 
60 

8  00 
30 
30 


26 
50 


Robert  Carter  Sf  Brothers. 


Olmsted's  Thoughts  and  Counsels  for  the  Impenitent 

Ol  d  White  M  eetin  g- House.     ISmo, 
Old    Humphrey's  Observations        .        .        . 

Addresses        ...... 

Thoughts  for  the  Thoughtful 

Walks  in  London  .... 


Homely  Bints 

Country  Strolls 

•  Old  Sea  Captain 

Grandparents 

Isle  of  Wight 

Pithy  Papers 

Pleasant  Tales 


Opie   On  Lying.     New  edition,  ISmo. 
Ovren   On  Spiritual  Mindedness.     12nio. 
Paley's  Horce  Paulinae.     r2mo. 

*P  a  s  c  a  1 '  s  Provincial  Letters.      New  edition,  edited  by  McCrie 

Thoughts.    16mo 

*Pastor's    Daughter.    By  Louisa  Payson  Hopkins 
Patterson   on  the  Asseniblys  Shorter  Catechism 
*P  eep    of  Day.     New  edition         .... 
*L  ine   Upon    Line.     New  edition 

*Precept   on  Precept.     New  edition 

Pike's  True  Happiness.     ISnio.         ..... 

Divine  Origin  of  Christianity.     Ibmo. 

Philip's    Devotional  Guides.     2  vols.  12mo. 

Marys,  or  the  Beauty  of  Female  Holiness 

Marthas,  or  the  Varieties  of  Female  Piety 

Lydias,  or  the  Development  of  Female  Character 

Hannahs,  or  Maternal  Influences  on  Sons 

Love  of  the  Spirit         ...... 

Young  Man's  Closet  Library  •        .        .        . 

P  o  11  o  k '  s  Course  of  time,  elegant  edition  ;  printed  on  superfine 

paper.     16mo.  with  portrait.     Cloth 
gilt,  extra  .... 

-  Turkey  morocco,  gilt 

■  small  copy,  close  type.     18mo. 

■  Life,  Letters,  and  Remains.    By  the  Rev.  James  Scott,  D.D 
With  portrait.     16mo. 


9 

50 

40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
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40 
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so 

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40 
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75 


1  00 

1  60 

2  00 
40 

1  00 


10  Catalogue  of  Bonks  Published  by 

*Pollok's  Tales  of  the  Scottish  Covenanters,  printed  enlarge  paper, 
uniform  with  the  above.   With  portrait  and  eight  illustrations 

on  wood  fioni  original  designs,  engraved  by  Howland.  ICmo.  7.') 

Do.                          do.                          do.                 .         .         gilt  1  00 

■ Helen  of  the  Glen.     ISmo.  ilUustrated          .         .         ,        .  25 

■ Persecuted  Family.    ISmo.  "  .         .  .25 

Ralph  Gemmell,     ISmo.  "  .         .  '2') 

Porteus'   Lectures  on  Matthew.     12 mo.        ....  60 

*P  o  we  rs  c  o  1 1 's  (Lady)    Letters.     12mo.                •         •        .  75 

"Psalms    ill  Hebrew.     32mo.                    .                     gilt  50 

Retrospect  (The)  by  Aliquis.     18mo.         ....  40 
Richmond's    Domestic   Portraiture,  edited  by  Bickersteth. 

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• Do                         do.         ......     gilt  1  GO 

■ Annals  of  tlie  Poor.     ISmo.             .                  ....  40 

Rogers'  Jacob's  WeU.     18mo. 40 

Romaine  on  Faith.     12mo 60 

Letters.     I2mo. 60 

*Rowland  (Rev.  Henry  A.)  The  Common  Maxims  of  Infidelity 

12mo. .75 

Rutherford's  Letters,  new  edition,  with  Life  by  Bonar      ,  1  50 

Scott's  Force  of  Truth.     1  Smo. 25 

Scougal's  Works.     ISmo             40 

Select    "Works    of  James,  Venn,  Wilson,   Philip,  and  Jay. 

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Select  Christian  Authors;  comprising  Doddridge, 
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Serle's  Christian  Remembrancer.     24mo.           .         .             gilt  50 

Sinner's  Friend.     1  Smo.        .        .      " .        .        .        .  25 

*Si60urney    (Mrs.   L.  H.)  Water  Drops.     Illustrated  with 

eight  tinted  engravings.     ICmo.                     ....  75 

■ Do.                        Do.         .....         .         gilt  1  00 

■ Boys'  Book.     Illustrated,  ISmo.            .         •         .        ;         .  40 

-  Do.                        Do.                  .....        gilt  60 

Girls'  Book.     Illustrated                ......  40 

Do.                        Do gilt  60 

*— Childa'  Book.     Illustrated                      .        .         •                 .  '  85 


Robert  Carter  Sf  Brothers.  11 

Sinclair's  Modern  A cconiplishnients            ....  .15 

Modern  Society             ........  76_ 

Do.            Do.    The  above  two  in  one  volume.          extra  gilt  2  00 

Charlie  Seymour-     ISino.              ......  30 

Simeon's    Life,    by    Carus ;    with    Introductory  Essay  by 

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Sir    Roland    Ashtou.     By  Lady  Catherine  Long          .  75 

Smyth's     Bereaved   I'arents  Consoled.     ]2nio.            ...  75 

Sorro'wring   Yet    Rejoicing,     l-^mo.         ...  80 

Do.                                                            3'2ino.  gilt                 .         .  80 

Spring  (Rev.  Gardiner,  D.D.) — A  Pastor's   Tribute  to  one  of  his 

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Stevenson's  Christ  on  the  Cross.     1  'Imo.                •        •         .  75 

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Sumner  '  s  Exposition  of  Matthew  and  Mark.     12mo.         •        .  75 

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Tacitus'   Works  translated.     Edited  hy  Murphy.     Svo.           .  2  00 

Taylor's  (Jane)  Hymns  for  Infant  Minds.     Square,   illustrated 

* Life  and  Correspondence.     ISmo.           .....  40 

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Mother  and  Daughter            .         .        ^         •         •         •         .  30 

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(Isaac)  Loyola  ;  or,  Jesuitism  in  its  Rudiments          .         .  1  00 

Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm.     l2aio.         ....  75 

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Tenuent's  Life.     18mo.                ......  25 

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12  Catalogue  of  Books  Published  by 

Tyng's  Lectures  on  the  Law  and  Gospel.    New  edition,  large 

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Christ  is  All.     8vo.     With  portrait         .         .         .         .         •     1  50 

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"Wat  erbur  y  '  s  Book  for  the  Sabbath.     I'-^mo. 
"W  h  a  t  el  y  '  S  Kingdom  of  Christ  and  Errors  of  Romanism     • 
"W  hitecross'  Anecdotes  on  the  Assembly's  Catechism 
"White's  (Hugh)  Meditation  on  Pray tT.     18mo. 

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Practical  Reflections  on  the  Second  Advent.    ISmo. 

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Do.  do.  1  Oi 

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Translated  by  Agnew.     8vo. 2  5( 

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R.  C.  &  Brothers,  have  nearly  ready  the  First  Volume  of  the  ""WORKS 
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is  their  intention  to  issue  a  volume  every  three  months  till  the  whole  are 
published. 


1 

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50 

DATE  DUE 


H,GHSMtTHM5230 


'ill^H 

M\  itHIMIiiIII 

■'m  m 

■i^-  mm 

1 
11 

i  1 

